jest(名词/动词):玩笑;戏谑;(以轻松方式)开玩笑、逗趣。常见搭配:in jest(开玩笑地,并非当真)。
/ dʒest /
He said it in jest, but she took it seriously.
他说那话是开玩笑的,但她却当真了。
Though he tried to jest about the mistake, his nervous laugh revealed how worried he really was.
尽管他试图拿这个错误开玩笑,但他紧张的笑声暴露了他其实有多担心。
jest 源自中古英语 gest(故事、趣谈),与古法语 geste(事迹、故事)有关;最初偏“讲故事/趣闻”,后来逐渐引申为“说笑、打趣”。