Are you looking for idioms about laughing?
If so, you have come to the right place.
In this post, we are going to look at 49 different idioms and phrases you can use to sound more like a native English speaker.
49 Useful Idioms About Laughing – Meaning & Examples
A barrel of laughs
- Meaning: A person or source of a lot of fun or amusement.
- Example: Every time we’re with Johnny, he’s a barrel of laughs!
A laughing stock
- Meaning: A person who is made fun of because of some blunder they made.
- Example: If I wear that dress to school, I’ll be the laughing stock of the 10th grade!
Be laughed out of court
- Meaning: When people dismiss your ideas, refusing to take them seriously.
- Example: You’ll be laughed out of court if you present your idea like that to the company’s CEO.
Be laughing all the way to the bank
- Meaning: When someone makes a lot of money easily on what others would say is a stupid or frivolous idea.
- Example: They can make fun of me all the way, I”ll be laughing all the way to the bank.
Be laughing out of the other side of (one’s) mouth
- Meaning: When one’s emotions change drastically, usually within a short period of time.
- Example: At first she seemed fine with the fact that my brother is getting married, but every day she’s laughing out of the other side of her mouth in sadness.
Belly Laugh
- Meaning: A deep, uncontrolled, hearty laugh.
- Example: My Dad always belly laughs at my jokes.
Burst out laughing
- Meaning: To laugh suddenly and uncontrollably.
- Example: Sam will burst out laughing, once you tell him that story. I guarantee it!
Drink (oneself) silly
- Meaning: When one drinks alcohol to the point of becoming intoxicated.
- Example: Do not drink yourself silly. It is unhealthy and unsafe.
To fall about the place (laughing)
- Meaning: To be consumed by overwhelming or uncontrollable laughter
- Example: My boyfriend is so funny, he always has us falling about the place laughing.
For kicks (to laugh)
- Meaning: To do something for fun, or distraction. For no good reason.
- Example: Walter decided to crash the wedding next door just for kicks.
For Laughs
- Meaning: To do something purely for entertainment.
- Example: Let’s prank call my little sister just for laughs.
Good for a laugh
- Meaning: To do something in order to make someone else laugh
- Example: I would say eating 8 hot dogs in 5 minutes was good for a laugh.
He laughs best, who laughs last
- Meaning: The person with the final say, move or victory is the only one with real success.
- Example: He might have won this time, but he better watch out. He laughs best, who laughs last.
He who laughs last laughs longest
- Meaning: When someone does something bad to you, they may feel good, but you will feel better by getting revenge on that person.
- Example: Karen was mean to me, but she doesn’t realize that he who laughs last, laughs longest.
The last laugh
- Meaning: A goal or victory completed despite mockery or doubt on another’s part.
- Example: Though the singer was made fun of in high school, her multi-platinum album proved she could truly have the laugh last.
The last laugh (on someone)
- Meaning: To ridicule or laugh at someone who had bullied or ridiculed you.
- Example: When I saw Kenny at my high school reunion, I said to him “Guess who has the last laugh now?”
Laugh (one’s) head off
- Meaning: To laugh hysterically, very loudly and for a long time.
- Example: Every time I watch that movie, I laugh my head off!
Laugh (something or someone) to scorn
- Meaning: To ridicule or mock someone or something
- Example: Amy just laughed at Jason’s business idea to scorn in front of everyone. How embarrassing!
Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone
- Meaning: When you’re happy and positive, everyone wants to be around you. When you’re sad or negative, no one wants to be around you.
- Example: I feel really bad that Ian’s girlfriend just broke up with him, but as they say, laugh and the whole world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.
To Laugh at
- Meaning: To chuckle at someone or something in ridicule.
- Example: I couldn’t help but laugh at Luke’s new cowboy hat. He is in no way an actual cowboy.
To Laugh away at (someone or something)
- Meaning: To continuously laugh at someone or something
- Example: The kids just laughed away their teacher after her embarrassing comments at the PTA meeting.
To Laugh in someone’s face
- Meaning: To laugh directly in someone’s face, as a way to show ridicule because of what they said or did
- Example: After he heard my side of the story, he just laughed in my face. How rude!
To Laugh something off
- Meaning: To deal with a serious problem lightly by laughing at the situation.
- Example: Once Josh found out about the outrageous debt, he told his brother to just laugh it off.
I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry
- Meaning: When one feels happy, yet sad emotions at the same time.
- Example: When we sold our house, I didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry.
To laugh up one’s sleeve
- Meaning: To laugh secretly with the intention of hiding one’s laughter.
- Example: I couldn’t help but laugh up my sleeve when she told that horrible joke.
No laughing matter
- Meaning: A very serious topic, circumstance or situation. Something that should not be taken lightly.
- Example: The car accident was no laughing matter. Three cars went off the road.
Laughing water
- Meaning: An alcoholic drink that causes giddiness or amusement in the drinker.
- Example: He doesn’t make good decisions when he has a little laughing water in him.
To make a laughingstock of someone or something.
- Meaning: To make fun of or ridicule someone or something
- Example: I knew I was the laughing stock of my high school reunion with my lime green suit, but I didn’t care.
To shout oneself silly
- Meaning: To shout until one can’t shout anymore.
- Example: Once he had learned he one first place, he shouted himself silly for 45 minutes straight.
To raise a laugh
- Meaning: To make a person or a group of people laugh.
- Example: The comedians one goal is to raise a laugh.
To roll on the floor laughing
- Meaning: To laugh uncontrollably.
- Example: That comedian always has me rolling on the floor laughing.
You have to just laugh
- Meaning: To recognize that a bad or unfortunate situation or circumstance is a bit funny
- Example: When he backed his brand new car into the tree, I told him “you have to just laugh!”
To laugh (oneself) silly
- Meaning: When one laughs uncontrollably, usually for a long period of time.
- Example: Jake always laughed himself silly, which in turn made us laugh.
The laugh (or joke) is on (someone)
- Meaning: Usually said when a practical joke backfires, someone says something foolish or silly.
- Example: I thought my plan would work perfectly, but the laugh is on me!
To split one’s sides
- Meaning: To laugh hysterically.
- Example: You were so funny tonight, you had the audience splitting their sides.
To laugh so hard
- Meaning: To laugh uncontrollably.
- Example: I laughed so hard, I started to cry!
To laugh until it hurts
- Meaning: To laugh hysterically and for a long period of time that you actually start to feel pain.
- Example: I laughed until it hurt at the comedy show last night.
To not be a barrel of laughs
- Meaning: To be someone who is not fun, funny or pleasant to be around.
- Example: I hate to say it, but Kelly is never a barrel of laughs.
Are you having a laugh? (British English)
- Meaning: To be in disbelief, similar to expressions such as “Are you serious?” and “Are you kidding me?”
- Example: After seeing the stains on her new sofa, she exclaimed, “Are you having a laugh?”
Die laughing
- Meaning: To laugh hard for a long time.
- Example: I couldn’t help but die laughing during the movie. It was so funny!
To bust a gut laughing
- Meaning: To start laughing suddenly, usually without control.
- Example: Mom couldn’t help bust a gut laughing when she noticed Dad had mustard in his mustache.
To have someone laughing in the aisles
- Meaning: To describe uncontrollable laughter
- Example: My grandpa is so funny, he always has us laughing in the aisles.
A horselaugh
- Meaning: A sarcastic laugh
- Example: My neighbor has a horse laugh. It’s actually quite annoying.
To laugh one off the stage
- Meaning: To laugh at someone in order to pressure them to get off the stage.
- Example: I’m nervous! What if I get laughed off-stage?
A laugh a minute
- Meaning: Someone or something that is very funny.
- Example: Sarah’s comedy is a laugh a minute.
Man plans and God laughs
- Meaning: Imperfect humans plans are never guaranteed to work out.
- Example: I know you put a lot into this house, but remember man plans and God laughs.
Play for laughs
- Meaning: To do something with the intention of being funny.
- Example: I like performing dramas, but I prefer comedies where I can play for laughs.
Laughter is the best medicine
- Meaning: When we’re happy we feel better and worry less.
- Example: My Dad always said, “laughter is the best medicine”, so stop worrying about what might happen tomorrow.
To crack a joke
- Meaning: To make or tell a joke.
- Example: When I’m nervous, I can’t help but crack a joke.
There you have it! 49 idioms about laughing.
Did we miss one, please share your favorite idiom in the comment section below.