"After your performance at the research committee last month, you must be joking," Simpson remarked.

You must be joking," and his heart seemed to wither inside him.

At least he didn't say, You must be joking.

Of course, the stock answer such questions receive is: 'You must be joking.

A girl among them said, 'You must be joking.

"You must be joking," I said, knowing, of course, that he wasn't but with no other reaction at hand.

Ruanek gave him a raised eyebrow you must be joking look back.

'You must be joking,' Doyle said with a sour smile.

On paying 50p for a cup of coffee: 'You must be joking!

Alastair Taylor is reported to have exclaimed "You must be joking!"

I would have said: 'You must be joking.

No, no and you must be joking.

"You must be joking," says another source.

"You must be joking," the woman said.

I asked if he was looking forward to living in England and he said, "You must be joking!

Sorry mates, but you must be joking.

It also saw the launch of the annual comedy competition "You Must be Joking".

'You must be joking - we're the arrivistes round here.

When I said banking, the response was 'Oh god, you must be joking.'

"When they first approached me, I said, 'You must be joking!'

-- though as with You must be joking, this gambit would only be used among people of roughly the same age or status.

"You must be joking," Genestra said, even though he knew Scott had no humorous intent.

'You must be joking!' she exploded - but she couldn't help smiling to herself.

"You must be joking," Augusta said cheerfully, 'not that it makes any difference; we'll manage, like everyone else. "

He replies 'You must be joking.