Used casually among friends or in informal situations; may not be appropriate in serious contexts. When he lost the game, Rob just made a joke of it to ease the tension.
Pro Tip 2/3
Not Dismissive
Be careful not to offend by belittling important issues when using this phrase. I didn't mean to make a joke of your concerns; I was just trying to lighten the mood.
Pro Tip 3/3
Self-Deprecation
Sometimes used to humorously acknowledge one's own shortcomings or errors. I'm making a joke of myself today with all these clumsy mistakes!