Are you ready to add some fun to your English? In this article, we will explore 35 laugh idioms that can make your conversations more interesting and lively.
A laughing idiom is a phrase that uses laughter to express something in a unique and playful way. These idioms can help you sound more natural when you speak English and will surely bring some smiles to your face.
Whether you’re chatting with friends or writing a story, knowing these idioms will give you a fresh way to express laughter and joy. Let’s dive in and discover how to use these fun expressions!
Master 35 Laugh Idioms with Meaning and Examples
1. Laugh your head off
Meaning: Laugh very hard or uncontrollably.
Example: She laughed her head off at the comedian’s jokes.
2. Burst out laughing
Meaning: Suddenly start laughing loudly.
Example: He burst out laughing when he saw the ridiculous costume.
3. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing so hard that it hurts.
Example: The whole audience was in stitches during the performance.
4. Die laughing
Meaning: Laugh excessively or uncontrollably.
Example: I nearly died laughing at that prank video.
5. Crack up
Meaning: Suddenly start laughing.
Example: He cracked up when he saw the cat chasing its tail.
6. Giggle like a schoolgirl
Meaning: Laugh in a silly or childlike way.
Example: They were giggling like schoolgirls during the movie.
7. Laugh up your sleeve
Meaning: Secretly amused while hiding it.
Example: He was laughing up his sleeve when his rival tripped.
8. Laugh all the way to the bank
Meaning: Make money easily or unexpectedly, often despite criticism.
Example: Critics mocked his idea, but now he’s laughing all the way to the bank.
9. Have the last laugh
Meaning: Ultimately be successful after being doubted or mocked.
Example: Everyone laughed at his startup, but he had the last laugh.
10. No laughing matter
Meaning: Something serious, not to be joked about.
Example: The power outage was no laughing matter during the storm.
Read this article: 45 Angry Idioms You Need to Know.
11. Laugh like a drain
Meaning: Laugh loudly and unrestrainedly.
Example: He laughed like a drain when he heard the punchline.
12. Be a barrel of laughs
Meaning: Be very funny or entertaining.
Example: That party was a barrel of laughs!
13. Roar with laughter
Meaning: Laugh very loudly.
Example: The crowd roared with laughter at his impersonation.
14. Cackle like a witch
Meaning: Laugh in a high-pitched, unpleasant way.
Example: She cackled like a witch when the plan worked.
15. Split your sides
Meaning: Laugh so hard it feels like your sides will split.
Example: We split our sides laughing at the bloopers.
Read this article: 75 Body Idioms with Meanings and Examples.
16. Laugh someone/something out of town
Meaning: Ridicule something so much that it’s rejected.
Example: His idea was laughed out of town in the first meeting.
17. Laugh like a hyena
Meaning: Laugh loudly and wildly.
Example: She laughed like a hyena at her own jokes.
18. Laugh one’s socks off
Meaning: Laugh a lot.
Example: I laughed my socks off watching that sketch.
19. Laugh someone out of court
Meaning: Dismiss someone’s ideas or efforts as ridiculous.
Example: His theory was laughed out of court by the experts.
20. A laughing stock
Meaning: A person or thing that is ridiculed.
Example: After that mistake, he became the office laughing stock.
Read this article: 40 Horse Idioms with Meaning and Examples You Can Use Daily.
21. Laugh someone to scorn
Meaning: Ridicule someone contemptuously.
Example: The critics laughed the new artist to scorn.
22. Be all smiles and laughter
Meaning: Be very cheerful and happy.
Example: They were all smiles and laughter at the wedding.
23. A hearty laugh
Meaning: A loud, genuine laugh.
Example: Grandpa let out a hearty laugh at the joke.
24. Laugh your way through something
Meaning: Stay cheerful even during difficulty.
Example: They laughed their way through the whole road trip.
25. Laugh till you cry
Meaning: Laugh so hard that you tear up.
Example: That story had us laughing till we cried.
Read this article: 80 Money Idioms Explained.
26. Force a laugh
Meaning: Pretend to laugh, usually to be polite.
Example: She forced a laugh at his not-so-funny joke.
27. Laugh on the other side of your face
Meaning: Be forced to stop laughing when things go wrong.
Example: He’ll be laughing on the other side of his face when he sees the bill.
28. Make someone laugh
Meaning: Cause someone to laugh.
Example: He always knows how to make me laugh when I’m down.
29. Not know whether to laugh or cry
Meaning: Be confused about whether to be amused or upset.
Example: When the cake fell, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
30. Laugh it off
Meaning: Dismiss something unpleasant by laughing.
Example: She laughed off the mistake like it was nothing.
Read this article: 90 Animal Idioms Explained.
31. Fall about laughing
Meaning: Laugh uncontrollably.
Example: We fell about laughing at the comedian’s stories.
32. Raise a laugh
Meaning: Cause people to laugh.
Example: His quirky comments always raise a laugh.
33. A nervous laugh
Meaning: A laugh that hides anxiety or discomfort.
Example: She gave a nervous laugh before answering the question.
34. Laugh like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: Laugh without restraint, completely carefree.
Example: They laughed like there’s no tomorrow at the reunion.
35. Just for laughs
Meaning: Done purely for fun or amusement.
Example: They pulled that prank just for laughs.
Read this article: 100 Tasty Food Idioms with Meanings and Examples.
Laugh Idioms – Practice Exercises.
Exercise 1: Matching Idioms with Meanings
Match the idiom with the correct meaning:
A. Laugh up your sleeve
B. In stitches
C. A laughing stock
D. Crack up
E. Laugh on the other side of your face
- Become the object of ridicule
- Secretly amused
- Start laughing suddenly
- Laugh so hard it hurts
- Stop laughing when things go badly
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
Complete the sentences using the correct laugh idiom from the box:
(laugh your head off, have the last laugh, force a laugh, laugh it off, fall about laughing)
- I didn’t like the joke, but I tried to _______ so no one noticed.
- We were watching the bloopers and began to _______ on the floor.
- She was criticized at first, but she worked hard and ended up having _______.
- The kids told a silly story, and I couldn’t help but _______.
- He made fun of me, but I decided to _______ rather than get upset.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct idiom to complete each sentence.
- When the magician slipped on stage, the audience was __________.
A) laugh it off
B) in stitches
C) laughing stock
D) raise a laugh - He always manages to __________ during serious meetings.
A) split his sides
B) raise a laugh
C) crack up
D) laugh like a drain - After that presentation error, she became the office __________.
A) barrel of laughs
B) laughing stock
C) laugh your socks off
D) die laughing
Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentence
Rewrite the following sentences using the laugh idiom in parentheses.
- Everyone in the room laughed really hard. (in stitches)
→ ________________________________________ - He was secretly amused when she failed. (laugh up your sleeve)
→ ________________________________________ - She pretended to laugh at the joke. (force a laugh)
→ ________________________________________
Exercise 5: Short Answer
Answer the following questions using a laugh idiom.
- What idiom would you use to describe laughing until it hurts your stomach?
→ _______________________________ - What idiom fits a situation where someone wins after being mocked?
→ _______________________________ - Which idiom means you’re pretending to be amused, but you’re not?
→ _______________________________
Answers to Exercises for Practicing Laugh Idioms
Exercise 1: Matching Idioms with Meanings
A. Laugh up your sleeve → 2. Secretly amused
B. In stitches → 4. Laugh so hard it hurts
C. A laughing stock → 1. Become the object of ridicule
D. Crack up → 3. Start laughing suddenly
E. Laugh on the other side of your face → 5. Stop laughing when things go badly
Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks
- I didn’t like the joke, but I tried to force a laugh so no one noticed.
- We were watching the bloopers and began to fall about laughing on the floor.
- She was criticized at first, but she worked hard and ended up having the last laugh.
- The kids told a silly story, and I couldn’t help but laugh my head off.
- He made fun of me, but I decided to laugh it off rather than get upset.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
- When the magician slipped on stage, the audience was B) in stitches.
- He always manages to B) raise a laugh during serious meetings.
- After that presentation error, she became the office B) laughing stock.
Exercise 4: Rewrite the Sentence
- Everyone in the room laughed really hard. (in stitches)
→ Everyone in the room was in stitches. - He was secretly amused when she failed. (laugh up your sleeve)
→ He laughed up his sleeve when she failed. - She pretended to laugh at the joke. (force a laugh)
→ She forced a laugh at the joke.
Exercise 5: Short Answer
- What idiom would you use to describe laughing until it hurts your stomach?
→ Split your sides / In stitches - What idiom fits a situation where someone wins after being mocked?
→ Have the last laugh - Which idiom means you’re pretending to be amused, but you’re not?
→ Force a laugh
Conclusion.
Now that you’ve discovered 35 laugh idioms, you have a great new set of expressions to use in your daily conversations.
Using these laughing idioms can make you sound more fluent and help you express emotions in a fun way.
Next time you laugh with friends or share a funny moment, try using one of these idioms to add some extra flair. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be laughing your way to better English!
