喻指荒唐的、不切合实际的事情absurd situation; international joke

• 这不是真的在开国际玩笑吗！

  This can't really be so absurd!

• 专家们坦诚地指出像他们这样的小单位，从事这项研究无异于开国际玩笑。

  The experts frankly stated that it is unrealistic for small units such as themselves to carry out this research.