Use 'be no joke' to emphasize the difficulty or demanding nature of a situation or task. Training for a marathon is no joke; it takes serious commitment.
Pro Tip 2/3
Colloquial Use
It's mostly used in conversational settings; not suitable for very formal writing. The workload this semester is no joke, huh?
Pro Tip 3/3
Emotional Impact
Expresses frustration or respect regarding the challenge faced. Completing that project on time was no joke; I barely slept.