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When pulling a prank on someone or telling a joke that could come across as offensive, usually we say "take a joke" or something along those lines. What is the expression for this in German?

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    Do you say that in advance? Could you also give an example?
    – 0x6d64
    Jul 28, 2012 at 10:58

3 Answers 3

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insertJoke. Das ist nicht ernst gemeint, inserName!

As 0x6d64 points out, the following two expressions are rather used when you say something you are serious about, but personally I think it is not wrong to use them in this case, too.

Nichts für ungut insertName, aber ... insertJoke.

Nimm es mir nicht übel insertName, aber ... insertJoke.

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    I downvoted this answer, because IMO "Nichts für ungut" and "Nimm es mir nicht übel" are not something you say before you make a joke, but before you say something which you are serious about. Example: Nichts für ungut, aber ich glaube in dieser Sache hast du ausnahmsweise Unrecht funny how this fits here ;-)
    – 0x6d64
    Jul 28, 2012 at 10:57
  • I agree with you on that you use these two expressions rather in serious issues, but I think it is OK to use them before telling a joke, too.
    – efie
    Jul 31, 2012 at 7:35
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    I don't know if I'm completely off track here, but if you would tell a joke this way I think that I might be irritated. On the other hand: I also don't have a good way to signal "joke ahead" in German, and I also don't get the concept of getting away with offensive jokes just by stating "I know, it is offensive but relax, it's just a joke". But this topic about offending other/feeling offended can lead to a lengthy discussion, which I don't like to take part here.
    – 0x6d64
    Jul 31, 2012 at 11:02
  • It's been a while; I just came back to this question and agree with 0x6f64 that my answer is rather incorrect and irritating. Accepting miracle2k's answer would be better. Unfortunately I cannot delete my answer since it has been accepted.
    – efie
    Dec 5, 2015 at 12:21
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I would suggest Spaß verstehen, as in maybe:

  • Versteh doch ein bißchen Spaß or
  • Man muss auch mal Spaß verstehen können.
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Mit Humor nehmen

This phrase is only being used though about jokes directed at the person itself. When the joke is generally offensive, "Spaß verstehen" would be a better choice.

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