Cool MateGetting to be a joke vs Ridiculous
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Getting to be a joke
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Ridiculous
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
Most formal: RidiculousMost common: Ridiculous
| Getting to be a joke | Ridiculous | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈɡɛtɪŋ tə bi: ə dʒəʊk//🇺🇸 //ˈɡɛtɪŋ tə bi: ə dʒoʊk// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | Becoming funny in a bad way | Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe. |
| Example | His excuses for being late are really just getting to be a joke. | I look ridiculous in this hat. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | getting to be a joke, this is getting ridiculous, becoming a laughingstock | be, feel, look, really, absolutely, completely, a sense of the ridiculous |
| Antonyms | being respected, being taken seriously, being credible | reasonable, sensible, logical |
| Common mistakes | Using in serious contexts, Confusing with 'playing a joke', Using 'getting' interchangeably with 'becoming' | 'Ridiculous' is often confused with 'ridicule' which means to mock or make fun of., Some learners use 'ridiculous' to describe something that is merely unusual, rather than absurd., Confusing 'ridiculous' with 'absurd' – while they are similar, 'absurd' may imply a deeper philosophical meaning. |
| Usage notes | Use when something becomes ridiculous. Usually informal settings; less appropriate for serious discussions. | Use 'ridiculous' to express disbelief or to criticize something as absurd. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, but avoid it in very serious contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Getting to be a joke vs Ridiculous
What's the difference between Getting to be a joke and Ridiculous?
Getting to be a joke: Becoming funny in a bad way Ridiculous: Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe.
Which is more formal: Getting to be a joke and Ridiculous?
Ridiculous is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Getting to be a joke and Ridiculous?
Ridiculous is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Getting to be a joke: His excuses for being late are really just getting to be a joke. Ridiculous: I look ridiculous in this hat.
Can I use Getting to be a joke and Ridiculous interchangeably?
Not always. Getting to be a joke and Ridiculous are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.