all joking aside

(all) joking aside

In all seriousness; being frank for a moment. Just flew in from Denver, huh? Your arms must be tired! Joking aside, how was your trip out here? I give my brother a hard time for the gangly way he runs, but all joking aside, he's quite a remarkable athlete.
See also: aside, joke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

all joking aside

Also, all kidding aside. Seriously, as in I know I said I'd quit, but all joking aside this job is too much for one person, or All kidding aside, I hate to lose at croquet. This phrase often accompanies a joking statement.
See also: all, aside, joke
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • (all) joking aside
  • joking aside
  • (all) joking apart
  • joking apart/aside
  • kidding aside
  • (all) kidding aside
  • all kidding aside
  • aside
  • apart
  • kid
References in periodicals archive
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But all joking aside, this was a week of seriously big political stories which could have equally serious repercussions for David Cameron's coalition government.
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