It was a long-standing joke.
The importance of non-native English language skills can be recognized behind the long-standing joke that the international language of science and technology is broken English.
It was a long-standing joke in the family that she was choosy and would end up an old maid.
He thought of the long-standing joke at Exeter about a more fitting translation of that inscription.
This, apparently, was also a long-standing joke.
It was a long-standing joke between them.
The reference to "big brother" was a long-standing joke on the few weeks' age difference between Rama and his siblings.
This was a long-standing joke.
Rhashad's mother was a long-standing joke among sword-dancers who knew him.
Charles Nelson Reilly - it was a long-standing joke on Match Game in the 1970s.