all kidding aside

• all jokes aside
• all joking aside
• kidding aside

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all kidding aside

1. (speech act, idiomatic) Used to attempt to make a serious point in a jocular conversation.
   • 1983 April 25, Steve Wozniak, letter to the editor, Infoworld,

     All kidding aside, I doubt we'll ever bomb Japan as long as [the Japanese] make Epson printers.

   • 2002, Anne McCaffrey, The Mark of Merlin:

     "All kidding aside, Carlysle . . ."
     "Carla," I corrected him automatically.
     "I'm too used to thinking of you as 'Carlysle' and male to change both at once . . . All kidding aside, it'd be better for you not to stay on here any longer than the storm."

   • 2009 February 19, Joe Biden, speech, The Good of the Nation,

     Max, just remember, when we call, I call, just say "Yes, Joe," okay? (Laughter.) All kidding aside, thanks for your great help in this, Max.

• (to make a serious point): seriously, but seriously folks