Learn English – Idiom for making fun of an unpleasant situation

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I am looking for an idiom that can be used when someone is trying to make fun to alleviate of a unpleasant situation.

Example: Stockholm City has a big construction in its center that clearly affects both locals and tourists and of the way to make fun of this is through nice and funny banners.

My native language has something that translates to "fun of trouble", but I do not know if this sounds OK in English.

Question: Is there an idiom describe makinging fun of an unpleasant situation?

Best Answer

One modern proverb that may be suitable for this situation is "If life hands you lemons, make lemonade." The idea is that with the right attitude (and the right ingredients) you can turn something sour into something sweet.

Charles Doyle, Wolfgang Mieder & Fred Shapiro, The [Yale] Dictionary of Modern Proverbs dates the expression to 1910:

If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. [First cited occurrence:] 1910 William G. Haupt, The Art of Business College Soliciting (Chicago: for the author) 89: "Don't be a pessimist, but be optimistic. If anyone 'hands you a lemon' take it home and make lemonade of it." ...

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