27 Idioms for Laughing
Introduction
Laughter is one of the most universal ways we connect with others—and the English language has no shortage of idioms to describe it. From soft giggles to wild bursts of laughter, these expressions help capture the emotion, sound, and even silliness of a good laugh.
In this article, you’ll explore 27 fun and expressive idioms related to laughter. Each one comes with a simple meaning, example sentences, and alternative ways to say the same thing. Whether you’re writing, joking, or just trying to sound more natural in English, these idioms will bring a smile to your vocabulary.
Idioms for Laughing
1. Laugh your head off
Meaning: Laugh a lot and very loudly
In a Sentence:
– “That movie was so funny, I laughed my head off!”
– “She laughed her head off when I told her the joke.”
Other Ways to Say: Crack up / Burst out laughing
2. Burst out laughing
Meaning: Suddenly start laughing loudly
In a Sentence:
– “He slipped on a banana peel and I burst out laughing.”
– “When I saw the meme, I just burst out laughing.”
Other Ways to Say: Explode with laughter / Break into laughter
3. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing so much that it hurts
In a Sentence:
– “Her impressions had me in stitches all night.”
– “That stand-up comedian had the whole crowd in stitches.”
Other Ways to Say: Laughing uncontrollably / Hysterical
4. Crack up
Meaning: Suddenly start laughing or find something very funny
In a Sentence:
– “I always crack up when I watch cat videos.”
– “He cracked up at his own joke.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh hard / Lose it
5. Rolling on the floor laughing (ROFL)
Meaning: Laughing so hard you can’t stop, often exaggerated
In a Sentence:
– “That prank was so good, I was rolling on the floor laughing.”
– “The group chat had me ROFL with those gifs.”
Other Ways to Say: Laughing like crazy / Can’t stop laughing
6. Tickled pink
Meaning: Very amused or delighted
In a Sentence:
– “I was tickled pink by the birthday surprise.”
– “Grandpa was tickled pink when we showed him the funny card.”
Other Ways to Say: Very pleased / Delighted and laughing
7. Die laughing
Meaning: Laugh extremely hard (not literal!)
In a Sentence:
– “We were watching old bloopers and literally died laughing.”
– “He told the worst joke and we still died laughing.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh hysterically / Can’t stop laughing
8. Split your sides
Meaning: Laugh so much it feels like your sides hurt
In a Sentence:
– “I was splitting my sides at that comedy show.”
– “He had us splitting our sides at lunch with his stories.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh until it hurts / Double over in laughter
9. Burst into laughter
Meaning: Start laughing suddenly and loudly
In a Sentence:
– “The kids burst into laughter when the clown tripped.”
– “She burst into laughter during the serious meeting!”
Other Ways to Say: Break out laughing / Can’t hold it in
10. Laugh up your sleeve
Meaning: Laugh quietly or secretly, often at someone
In a Sentence:
– “He pretended to be serious but was laughing up his sleeve.”
– “They were laughing up their sleeves at the teacher’s mistake.”
Other Ways to Say: Sneaky laugh / Quiet chuckle
11. Have a good laugh
Meaning: Enjoy a fun or funny moment together
In a Sentence:
– “We had a good laugh remembering our school days.”
– “Even after the mistake, we managed to have a good laugh about it.”
Other Ways to Say: Share a laugh / Laugh together
12. Laugh like a drain
Meaning: Laugh loudly and without restraint
In a Sentence:
– “He laughs like a drain at the silliest jokes.”
– “She laughed like a drain at the comedy show.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh loudly / Uncontrollable laughter
13. Fall about laughing
Meaning: Laugh so hard that you almost fall down
In a Sentence:
– “We were falling about laughing when he did that silly dance.”
– “Everyone at the party fell about laughing.”
Other Ways to Say: Collapse with laughter / Fall over laughing
14. Laugh till you cry
Meaning: Laugh so much that tears come to your eyes
In a Sentence:
– “Her jokes were so funny I laughed till I cried.”
– “We laughed till we cried at the old videos.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh insanely / Overwhelmed by laughter
15. Laugh your socks off
Meaning: Laugh a lot (playful exaggeration)
In a Sentence:
– “You’ll laugh your socks off at that new sitcom.”
– “He laughed his socks off when I fell in the snow.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh super hard / Can’t stop giggling
16. Giggle fit
Meaning: A sudden and uncontrollable burst of giggling
In a Sentence:
– “We got the giggle fit during class and couldn’t stop.”
– “She had a giggle fit watching the baby make faces.”
Other Ways to Say: Laughing attack / Can’t stop giggling
17. Have the last laugh
Meaning: Be successful or right in the end after being doubted or mocked
In a Sentence:
– “They laughed at his idea, but he had the last laugh when it worked.”
– “She had the last laugh when she got the job everyone said she couldn’t.”
Other Ways to Say: Win in the end / Come out on top
18. Burst into giggles
Meaning: Start giggling suddenly, often uncontrollably
In a Sentence:
– “The kids burst into giggles when the teacher sneezed loudly.”
– “They burst into giggles when someone’s phone rang with a funny tone.”
Other Ways to Say: Start laughing / Begin giggling
19. Fit of laughter
Meaning: A strong, uncontrollable episode of laughing
In a Sentence:
– “He had a fit of laughter that lasted five minutes.”
– “They were in fits of laughter the whole ride home.”
Other Ways to Say: Laughing hard / Laughing spell
20. Chuckle to yourself
Meaning: Laugh quietly, usually when alone or thinking of something funny
In a Sentence:
– “I chuckled to myself remembering his silly joke.”
– “She chuckled to herself while reading the comic.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh quietly / Inner laugh
21. Laugh out loud (LOL)
Meaning: Laugh audibly, often used in texting to mean something is funny
In a Sentence:
– “That video made me literally laugh out loud.”
– “She texted ‘LOL’ after I sent the meme.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh aloud / Burst out laughing
22. Crack a smile
Meaning: Show amusement or start to laugh slightly
In a Sentence:
– “Even the grumpy boss cracked a smile at the joke.”
– “She finally cracked a smile after hours of being upset.”
Other Ways to Say: Grin / Smile slightly
23. Burst with laughter
Meaning: Suddenly be filled with laughter
In a Sentence:
– “He burst with laughter when he saw the costume.”
– “The whole class burst with laughter after the prank.”
Other Ways to Say: Explode in laughter / Break out laughing
24. Laugh to yourself
Meaning: Laugh quietly when no one else is around or listening
In a Sentence:
– “I laughed to myself thinking about that awkward moment.”
– “She laughed to herself while looking at old photos.”
Other Ways to Say: Silent chuckle / Private laugh
25. Laugh your guts out
Meaning: Laugh extremely hard
In a Sentence:
– “We laughed our guts out watching that blooper reel.”
– “He laughed his guts out at the comedy skit.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh hard / Hysterical laughter
26. Get the giggles
Meaning: Start giggling and can’t stop
In a Sentence:
– “She got the giggles during the wedding ceremony!”
– “We got the giggles and couldn’t stop for 10 minutes.”
Other Ways to Say: Giggle nonstop / Catch the laughs
27. Laugh like a hyena
Meaning: Laugh loudly, wildly, and often uncontrollably
In a Sentence:
– “He laughed like a hyena at his own joke.”
– “They were laughing like hyenas after the prank.”
Other Ways to Say: Laugh loudly / Wild laugh
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom from the list:
- That video was so funny, I nearly __ my head off.
- We were so amused, we were all in __.
- She didn’t say anything, but I saw her quietly __ to herself.
- He was supposed to be serious, but suddenly he __ into giggles.
- They made fun of him, but he got the job and had the __ laugh.
Answer Key
- laughed
- stitches
- chuckled / laughed
- burst
- last
Conclusion
Laughter brings people together—and idioms about laughing bring the language to life. From quiet chuckles to wild outbursts, these expressions help us describe joy in all its forms. Whether you’re texting a friend, writing a story, or reacting to a hilarious moment, these 27 idioms will help you express yourself with color, fun, and fluency. In contrast, language also encompasses idioms expressing deep sadness, capturing the weight of sorrowful moments. Just as laughter can unite and uplift, these expressions offer insight into the human experience of grief and loss. Together, they enrich our conversations, allowing us to navigate the full spectrum of emotions we encounter in life. Moreover, expanding your vocabulary with expressions like these not only enhances your linguistic skills but also deepens your connections with others. By exploring 30 common idioms for expressing emotions, you can articulate feelings more vividly and meaningfully. This richer language contributes to our ability to share our experiences and empathize with those around us.
Now that you’ve got them in your toolkit, go ahead—crack a smile and use a few in your next conversation!
