Ш-100

HE ШУТКА coll NP Invar subj-compl with быть0, pres only)

1. ( subj: a quantit NP) the amount or quantity of people (things etc) in question is considerable, is relatively large

no small number (amount, sum etc)

no piddling amount a hefty number (amount) nothing to sneeze at (in limited contexts) it counts for something.

Мелодия уплывала за кладбищенские кроны, а Петр Васильевич, поворачивая к дому, озаботился про себя: «Надо бы как-нибудь днями зайти, посочувствовать. Сколько верст вместе намотали, не шутка. Да, надо...» (Максимов 3). The melody floated away over in the cemetery treetops, and Pyotr Vasilievich made an anxious mental note, as he turned for home. "Ought to drop in someday soon, offer my sympathy. Chalked up a few miles together, we did.. .Counts for something. Yes, I ought to..." (3a).

2. ( subj: usu. abstr or a clause, occas. concr) some action (phenomenon etc) should be taken seriously, considered significant (because it may have serious consequences, is a significant accomplishment etc): no joke

no laughing matter nothing to sneeze at not to be sneezed at.

"И опять я возгордился им ужасно! Как ни крути, а мой родной сын - капитан и командир батареи, это не шутка!» (Шолохов 1). "And again I was terribly proud of him. Say what you like: my own son was a captain and a battery commander

that's not to be sneezed at!" (1a).

3. ( subj: infin) doing sth. is not easy, requires resolve, effort, courage etc

no easy task

quite a feat.

Закончить аспирантуру за два года - это не шутка. Обычно на это уходит пять-шесть лет. Getting a doctorate in two years is quite a feat. It usually takes five or six years.