fulfil what was promised as a joke; playful love (/friendship)becomes serious; pretence may become reality;what was said in fun is fulfilled in earnest; what was make believe has become reality ❍ 既已～，又当就此用计。(《三国演义》470) However since juggling with deceit we have ended in a solid truth our future plans must start from the actual present facts. ❍ 前言戏之耳，岂知～，果然违犯天条，奈何？(《西游记》128)My previous words were spoken in jest; little did I realize that my prank would turn out to be such a serious crime. Now I have indeed transgressed the law of Heaven. What am I to do?
《弄假成真》nong jia cheng zhen
What Was Make-believe Becomes True→杨绛 (Yang Jiang)
弄假成真
what was make-believe has become reality; what began in fun ends in dead earnest
弄假成真nònɡ jiǎ chénɡ zhēn
本想假意去做，结果却成了真事。what was make believe has become reality, what was said in fun is fulfilled in earnest, fulfill what was promised as a joke