get/go beyond a joke

if a situation gets beyond a joke, it becomes extremely serious and worrying.

He's drunk more nights than he's sober these days - this has gone beyond a joke.

• push for something
• push luck
• push off
• push on
• push over the edge
• push someone around
• push someone over the edge
• push someone's buttons
• push the boat out
• push the edge of the envelope
• push the envelope
• push the panic button
• push the right button
• push the right buttons
• push your luck
• put a bomb under someone
• put a bomb under something
• put a brave face on
• put a brave face on something
• put a brave front on
• put a brave front on something
• put a dampener on
• put a dampener on something
• put a damper on
• put a damper on something