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单词 laugh
释义

laughn.

Brit. /lɑːf/, /laf/, U.S. /læf/
Forms: 1500s– laugh, 1900s– laff (nonstandard); Scottish 1800s leugh, 1800s– lauch, 1900s– leuch.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: laugh v.
Etymology: < laugh v. Compare Dutch lach (Middle Dutch lach ), Middle Low German lach , both ‘instance of laughter, burst of laughing’, German (now colloquial) Lache instance of laughter, burst of laughing, person's characteristic manner of laughing (Middle High German lache instance of laughter), and also Dutch lachen , Middle Low German lachen , German Lachen , all in senses ‘instance of laughter’, ‘act of laughing’ (uses as noun of the respective verbs cited at laugh v.). Compare larf n., and also earlier laughing n., laughter n.1
1. An instance of laughing; a burst of laughter. Also: a person's characteristic manner of laughing. Also figurative.belly, canine, holy, horse-laugh, etc.: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > [noun] > instance of
laughterOE
laugh1592
larf1836
yock1938
1592 S. Daniel Complaynt of Rosamond in Delia sig. I2 What women knowes it not I feare too much How blisse or bale lyes in theyr laugh or lowre?
1616 B. Jonson Entertainm. at Highgate 249 in Wks. I Goe to, little blushet, for this, anan, Yow'le steale forth a laugh in the shade of your fan.
1670 W. Annand Pater Noster v. 263 Philemon died in a laugh.
1713 R. Steele in Guardian 14 Apr. 1/1 The Laugh of Men of Wit is for the most part but a faint constrained kind of Half-Laugh.
1792 S. Rogers Pleasures Mem. i. 33 The heart's light laugh pursued the circling jest.
1811 J. Austen Sense & Sensibility III. vi. 116 Elinor could have forgiven everything but her laugh . View more context for this quotation
1834 Leigh Hunt's London Jrnl. 9 Apr. 9/1 When she stooped..over the tinder-box on a cold morning, and rejoiced to see the first laugh of the fire.
1857 C. H. Spurgeon New Park St. Pulpit II. 131 It is a figment and a fiction, a laugh and a dream.
1937 H. Jennings et al. May 12th Mass-observ. Day-surv. i. iii. 237 There is a pandemonium of noise, shouts, laughs and songs.
1952 ‘E. Ferrars’ Alibi for Witch i. 7 Marguerite laughed, a deep, throaty laugh.
1987 D. Wigoder Images of Destr. ii. 26 His boisterous laugh and friendly smiles often deceived us into believing that his feelings..were paternal and sympathetic.
2004 Cosmo Girl Aug. 95/2 Always up for a party and not afraid to offend anyone in the name of getting a laugh.
2. Laughter; inclination to laugh. Frequently in full of laugh. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > [noun]
laughtereOE
laughingc1325
laugh1673
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 203 It is the seat of laughter, always while you live, so much spleen, so much laugh.
1690 J. Crowne Eng. Frier v. 45 Oh I'me full of laugh, and must give it some vent.
1694 W. Congreve Double-dealer iii. i. 37 You are never pleased but when we are all upon the broad grin; all laugh and no Company.
1703 Poems on Affairs of State II. 159 His Face full oft of Laugh and Humour is full.
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man i. 11 Do you find jest, and I'll find laugh, I promise you.
1825 W. R. Grenville Forty Years in World (ed. 2) II. i. 4 I have frequently seen crowds of Hindoos..commixed as in our village scenes, and equally full of laugh, fun, and life.
1891 S. J. Duncan Amer. Girl in London 191 Mr. Pratte had very blue eyes with a great deal of laugh in them.
1906 Harper's Mag. Feb. 455/2 ‘Yes siree,’ Hill said, so full of laugh he couldn't hardly talk plain; ‘that's just who she was!’
1958 G. Corso Let. in Accidental Autobiogr. (2003) 155 Aren't any of you afraid of seriousness? I am. But I'm never afraid of laugh.
3.
a. A cause of laughter; a joke. In later use frequently ironic, as that's a laugh, what a laugh, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [noun] > that which causes or is subject of laughter
laughterOE
laughing game1530
laughing matter1549
laugh1689
scream1888
shriek1930
giggle1936
hoot1942
crack-up1961
laugher1973
1689 R. Gould Poems 305 Thus Error, in its rise, I strove to quash, And where I spar'd the laugh, I gave the lash.
1712 Spectator No. 279. 161 I remember but one Laugh in the whole Æneid, which rises in the Fifth Book upon Monœtes.
1819 C. Felch Let. 26 Aug. in Amer. Jrnl. Sci. (1920) 250 157 William. T. Malbone..seeing some appearance on the water, said—‘there is your Sea Serpent,’ meaning it as a laugh on me, for believing in its existence.
1895 G. B. Shaw in Sat. Rev. 2 Mar. 281/2 The piece contained three or four ‘laughs’ which could not possibly have been explained or described at a dinner party.
1921 Motion Picture Mag. Oct. 21/2 There is unlimited room for the screen comedy of manners and for comedy that depends for its laughs upon the sheer power of clever situations.
1930 W. R. Burnett Iron Man i. 3 Ain't that a laugh!.. That guy's been sleeping for the last half-hour, and he says we're a lot of company.
1961 A. Wilson Old Men at Zoo i. 51 That's a laugh. When Leacock was head of the Aquarium, he did absolutely nothing.
1999 Elephant & Castle (Coventry Univ. Students' Union) Oct. 15/1 Take four guys who all vow to get laid before their Prom night and you get a film that's full of laughs!
2001 Independent 22 Mar. i. 7/3 ‘I was worried the snow would kill some of my lambs,’ said one farmer, swigging back a beer, ‘What a laugh. I am going to lose all of them, aren't I?’
b. Something entertaining, diverting, or enjoyable; a good time, a lark. Also: (in plural) fun, amusement. Cf. to do something for laughs (also a laugh) at Phrases 6.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > [noun] > source of amusement or entertainment
mirtha1250
solacec1290
recreationc1400
esbatement1477
pastime1490
pastancea1500
passe-temps1542
entertainment1561
relief?1578
fancy1590
sport1598
abridgement1600
entertain1601
recreative1615
amusatory1618
nutsa1625
diverter1628
recreator1629
passatempo1632
amuser1724
fun1726
dissipation1733
resource1752
distraction1859
enlivening1859
good, clean fun1867
enlivenment1883
light relief1885
laugh1921
not one's scene1962
violon d'Ingres1963
1921 Physical Training Mar. 239 They certainly enjoyed themselves, for it [sc. the demonstration] was a laugh from start to finish.
1931 M. Hellinger Moon over Broadway xlvii. 234 Slip me another shot of belly grease and we'll all have laughs.
1975 A. Scher & C. Verrall 100+ Ideas for Drama v. 108 It should be a laugh on holiday with Geraldine, maybe they'll meet some boys.
1982 Cincinnati Mag. Dec. 74/3 The round [of golf] was a laugh for the Bengals, of course, a lark, a good deed.
1986 Times 27 Jan. 9/7 Going out to work isn't a load of laughs.
1997 Select June 115/2 If the movies teach us one thing it's that life in The Mob is a right laugh: loads of cocaine, expensive clobber, hours of matey patter.
4.
a. A person regarded as an object of laughter or ridicule; a laughing stock.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > fact or condition of being mocked or ridiculed > [noun] > object of ridicule
hethinga1340
japing-stickc1380
laughing stock?1518
mocking-stock1526
laughing game1530
jesting-stock1535
mockage1535
derision1539
sporting stocka1556
game1562
May game1569
scoffing-stock1571
playing stock1579
make-play1592
flouting-stock1593
sport1598
bauchle1600
jest1606
butt1607
make-sport1611
mocking1611
mirtha1616
laughing stakea1630
scoff1640
gaud1650
blota1657
make-mirth1656
ridicule1678
flout1708
sturgeon1708
laugh1710
ludibry1722
jestee1760
make-game1762
joke1791
laughee1808
laughing post1810
target1842
jest-word1843
Aunt Sally1859
monument1866
punchline1978
1710 D. Manley Mem. Europe I. iii. 289 If she had any other Art of pleasing him, he had best conceal it, lest he make himself the Laugh of those numerous Coxcombs.
1818 Ld. Byron Beppo xciv. 43 He oft became the laugh of them.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend I. ii. xiii. 288 Must you too begin to dispose of me in your mind..as soon as I had ceased to be the talk and the laugh of the town?
1920 E. Poole Blind (1921) ix. 160 ‘As you've got her now, she's a laugh,’ he said. ‘And the laughs will kill the piece.’
1994 Chicago Sun-Times (Nexis) 19 Jan. 39 Oh yi-yi! I would have been the laugh of the town, partner, if I tried to insure it.
b. colloquial. An amusing or entertaining person. Now chiefly British.
ΚΠ
1921 Kodak Mag. Mar. 23/1 Eight finished acts were presented, including..Sam Kellman, Hebrew comedian, who was a laugh from start to finish.
1937 J. Steinbeck Of Mice & Men iii. 92 Old Susy's a laugh—always crackin' jokes.
1983 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 17 Dec. l1/4 In Ireland someone would say, ‘Oh, he's a good laugh,’ and that would be his credibility.
1995 A. Devlin Criminal Classes ii. 39 Mum's all right, she's a laugh. She'll come to gay bars with me.
2006 S. Townsend Queen Camilla 155 Prince Harry, who were a right laugh but were a proper ginga.
5. An animal call or cry which is suggestive of human laughter, esp. that of a hyena.
ΚΠ
1735 tr. C.-P. J. de Crébillon Skimmer I. ii. xiv. 116 The Screech-Owl, seeing this, set up a frightful Laugh.
1810 Eclectic Rev. July 639 A person who is possessed with the passion of superciliousness, we are told, ‘can comprehend nothing but the laugh of the hyena’.
1845 L. Leichhardt Jrnl. Overland Exped. Austral. (1847) 234 I usually rise when I hear the merry laugh of the laughing-jackass.
1867 A. L. Adams Wanderings Naturalist India 114 We were startled one night by the unpleasant laugh of the fish-owl.
1943 Pacific Affairs 16 493 A mild protest might perhaps be entered against his description of the kookaburra's laugh as an ‘unearthly screech’.
1976 A. Delius Border ii. 309 A kind of yelp, like a hyena's laugh, but sort of muffled.
2004 Express (Nexis) 10 Jan. 51 I'd swap the sounds of cars and police sirens for the cry of a mourning dove, bellowing of a hippo or laugh of a hyena any day.

Phrases

P1.
a. to turn the laugh upon (also on, against) a person: to turn the situation to a person's disadvantage, esp. by making him or her an object of ridicule.
ΚΠ
1668 J. Glanvill Plus Ultra viii. 60 Experience turns the laugh upon the confident incredulity of the Scoffer.
1757 ‘L. Lively’ Merry Fellow I. 280 This unexpected answer turned the laugh upon the duke, who never after attempted to be witty on so serious a subject.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 153 He..found no great difficulty in turning the laugh upon the aggressor.
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Dec. 790/1 Sydney Smith has turned the laugh against the Bishop most triumphantly and guffawingly.
1857 M. Reid Young Yägers xxvii. 248 I'll turn the laugh upon the whole of them—that I shall.
1922 McClure's Mag. Apr. 16/3 I would turn the laugh on Sol Rosenblum and I would do it with the truth.
1994 A. Green Tennis, Anyone? 4 Priscilla. I'll do anything to get back at those guys who laughed at me. Dad. That's the spirit. Turn the laugh on them.
b. to raise the laugh against: to make an object of ridicule. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > laugh to scorn > cause laughter at someone
to raise the laugh against1737
1737 Presbytery of Edinb.'s Reply Affair W. Wishart 66 Are the Gentlemen Lawyers serious in this Instance? Surely not: and therefore they must thereby raise the Laugh of their Readers against them.
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield I. vii. 61 This effectually raised the laugh against poor Moses.
1814 F. Burney Wanderer II. iv. xxxiv. 325 That, you know would raise the laugh against us all horridly.
1848 R. Blakey Hist. Philos. Mind (1850) III. xvi. 260 His chief aim was to raise the laugh against any thing he was disinclined to adopt or to investigate profoundly.
1918 W. L. Cross Hist. Henry Fielding III. xxxvi. 279 Subsequently he raised the laugh against the English Jacobites, against Foote and Dr. Hill and the tribe of Grub Street.
1922 Open Court June 371 It is on this point in particular that Jules Lemaître..raised the laugh against him.
c. to have the laugh on a person and variants: to have a person at a disadvantage, esp. by making him or her an object of ridicule.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery or superiority over [verb (transitive)] > have or get (someone) at a disadvantage
to have at avail1470
to catch, have, hold, take (one) at (a or the) vantagec1510
to gain of1548
to be to the forehand with1558
to have (take) on (in, at) the lurch1591
to get the sun of1598
to have (also get) a good hand against1600
to take (have, etc.) at a why-nota1612
to weather on or upon1707
to have the laugh on a person1767
to have a (or the) pull of (also over, on)1781
to get to windward of1783
to have the bulge on1841
to give points to1854
to get (have) the drop on1869
to hold over1872
to have an (or the) edge on1896
to get (also have) the goods on1903
to get (or have) the jump on1912
to have (got) by the balls1918
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > disadvantageously [phrase] > to the disadvantage of > someone is at a disadvantage
to have the laugh on a person1767
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > laugh to scorn > find someone laughable
to have the laugh on a person1767
1767 I. Bickerstaff Love in City ii. xii. 44 Well now my dear, you will have the laugh against them, at least.
1866 C. Kingsley Hereward the Wake I. ii. 94 If I have had my laugh at them, they have had theirs at me.
1881 E. E. Frewer tr. E. Holub Seven Years S. Afr. II. iv. 80 Meriko had the laugh of me.
1909 J. London Let. 1 July (1966) 280 The laugh is on me. I confess to having been fooled by Mr. Harris's canard.
1949 W. S. Maugham Writer's Notebk. 329 Sometimes we die sitting quietly in an armchair over a whisky and soda... Then, I suppose, we have the laugh over those who..never rested till the end.
1966 ‘J. Hackston’ Father clears Out 18 She's got the laugh on me this time, all right.
2006 D. Grant Selling Art without Galleries 204 The laugh was on him, however, since the majority of the Old Masters he bought turned out to be fakes.
P2.
a. to have (also get) the laugh on one's side: to have the advantage over an opponent; to have the last laugh. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > have or gain mastery, superiority, or advantage [verb (intransitive)]
risec1175
to have the higher handa1225
to have the besta1393
bettera1400
vaila1400
to win or achieve a checka1400
surmount1400
prevaila1425
to have (also get) the better handa1470
to go away with it1489
to have the besta1500
to have (also get, etc.) the better (or worse) end of the staff1542
to have ita1616
to have (also get) the laugh on one's side1672
top1718
beat1744
to get (also have) the right end of the stick1817
to have the best of1846
to go one better1856
1672 J. Lacy Old Troop v. i. 57 Now the laugh is on our side, Gentlemen.
c1712 J. Swift Hints Ess. Conversat. in Wks. (1765) XIII. 257 Singling out a weak adversary, getting the laugh on his side, and then carrying all before him.
1760 ‘C. Townly’ Courtezans Pref. We married Men have the Laugh on our Side.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. v. 94 You've beat us..and have the laugh on your side now.
1890 Fores's Sporting Notes & Sketches 6 15 I kept quiet and didn't go blabbing and bucking about my horse, and I think now I've got the laugh on my side!
1904 P. H. G. Powell-Cotton In Unknown Afr. xxii. 300 When pursued, they disappeared off the face of the earth,..and, for the time being, had the laugh on their side.
1925 E. K. Chambers Shakespeare 168 In the wit-encounters of Eastcheap, Falstaff always came out on top, with the laugh on his side.
1984 J. Kleinman in R. L. Perkins Two Ages ix. 176 Ehrengard, the seducer's intended victim, ends by having the laugh on her side.
b. to have a laugh: to laugh; to have a good time, enjoy oneself; (later also) to joke, to joke around.
ΚΠ
1698 T. Dilke Pretenders v. 42 With all my heart, my Lord, say what you will, I will have a laugh at your service.
1728 J. Oldmixon Bouhours' Arts Logick & Rhetorick ii. 132 You have had a laugh once in six Month's Time.
1736 J. Gyles Mem. Odd Adventures 15 I never heard that the Indians understood the Occasion of the Fright, but James and I had many a private Laugh about it.
1863 H. Edgar Jrnl. 3 May in Contrib. Hist. Soc. Montana (1900) III. 133 Around and around that bush we went... We had a good laugh over our cake walk.
1953 Changing Times May 48/3 We have to have a laugh now and then in these ever ‘changing times’ we now live in.
1989 Q. Bradley & M. Foster in C. Itzin Pornography (1993) i. 44 We have a laugh, have some wine and a look at the products.
1997 New Musical Express 20 Sept. 40/2 Little monkey. English as Yorkshire pud. Always having a laugh.
2003 R. Gervais & S. Merchant Office: Scripts 2nd Ser. Episode 2. 73 You're having a laugh, saying that! What's so good about Swindon? Neil?
2008 Asiana Summer 115 No need to get heavy about it, let's just have a laugh, eh?
c. to have the last laugh and variants: to be vindicated after being the subject of ridicule, derision, or scepticism.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > be successful in the end
to have the last laugh1822
1822 G. C. tr. J.-B. Louvet de Couvray Amours Chevalier de Faublas IV. 208 I question who will have the last laugh, M. de Rosambert; for let me tell you, I don't like to be turned into ridicule.
1886 J. M. Morton Taken from French in Comediettas & Farces 145 Lady F. Well, I confess you have the best of the game. Sir F. And the last laugh!
1937 G. Gershwin & I. Gershwin They All Laughed (song) 4 They laughed at us and how! But Ho, Ho, Ho! Who's got the last laugh now?
1968 D. Godfrey in R. Weaver Canad. Short Stories 2nd ser. 306 The Yankee came back about the end of August and we had to give him the last laugh.
1975 J. Aiken Voices in Empty House iv. 121 The dead really have the last laugh on the living.
2005 Independent 30 Sept. 7/1 Sir John Eliot Gardiner, who was dumped by a major record label,..has had the last laugh after his self-released album of Bach cantatas was named record of the year.
P3. to raise a laugh: see raise v.1 10e.
P4. on the laugh: laughing; highly amused. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > [adjective] > laughing
laughingOE
on the laugh1770
1770 E. Thompson Compositions J. Oldham I. p. iii When the tottering Pedagogue made his Entry, they were all on the Laugh.
1843 Foreign Q. Rev. 30 119 All the world is on the laugh, while the great Frenchman is playing his man off.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) vi. 53 ‘Of course you did,’ cried Osborne, still on the laugh.
1910 L. W. Gascoyne-Cecil Changing China (1913) xviii. 223 The Chinese coolie loves a jest, and once he is on the laugh he will..be much more inclined to attend to serious teaching.
P5. Originally U.S. In later use frequently ironic.
a. a laugh a minute: (a source of) frequent laughter or amusement.
ΚΠ
1883 Daily Chron. (Marshall, Mich.) 6 Sept. 1/2 (advt.) First show this season and a laugh a minute.
1935 Hammond (Indiana) Times 31 Oct. 16/4 This racy comedy, which supplies a laugh a minute in the typical Runyonesque dialogue.
1968 Times 5 Oct. 19/4 Often what causes everyone the most misery in the making comes out a laugh a minute on the screen.
1996 ‘E. Lathen’ Brewing up Storm (1998) i. 3 This is going to be one helluva case. Even the preliminary hearing is a laugh a minute.
2008 D. Mamet in Village Voice Mar. 12–18 19/2 The play, while being a laugh a minute, is, when it's at home, a disputation between reason and faith.
b. attributive. laugh-a-minute: very funny, hilarious.
ΚΠ
1917 Portsmouth (New Hampsh.) Herald 10 May 5/2 (advt.) Tonight—the laugh-a-minute show... ‘The Two Recruits’.
1970 G. Chapman et al. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1989) II. xxxviii. 227 The kooky oddball laugh-a-minute fun-a-plenty world of unnatural sexual practices.
1994 United Church Observer Oct. 52/1 (advt.) Laugh a minute, zany story lines with great original music.
2002 Whisky Mag. Aug. 56/1 Those laugh-a-minute bureaucrats of Brussels said ‘RIP duty free’ back in 1999.
P6. to do something for laughs (also a laugh): to do something just for fun, for sport, or ‘for the hell of it’.
ΚΠ
1939 Charleston (W. Va.) Gaz. 13 Jan. 4/2 (advt.) They're in for life..but they only stay in for laughs!
1945 H. Brown Artie Greengroin 182 Some day that mess sergeant is going to fill the Spam full of arsenic and knock off the whole company for a laugh.
1962 Billboard Music Week 1 Sept. 49/3 Arnold would solidify his impression on the owner by bringing along an antique phonograph record ‘just for laughs’.
2005 E. Morrison Last Bk. you Read 1 I filled in their dumb-assed personality profile for a laugh.

Compounds

C1. General attributive, appositive, and objective, as laugh-compelling, laugh machine, laugh-shriek, etc.
ΚΠ
1782 J. Elphinston tr. Martial Epigrams vi. iii. viii. 290 Humor's ev'ry son eschew, And the laugh-compelling crew.
1834 H. Caunter in Oriental Ann. xiv. 187 The shrill laugh-shriek of the jackal.
1852 G. A. Sala in Housh. Words 18 Sept. 8/1 He will throw his huge grotesque laugh-provoking limbs on a stool.
1865 Cornhill Mag. July 35 The West-country peasant ages ago called it [sc. the woodpecker] the ‘yaffingale’, that is, the laugh-singer.
1930 Punch 2 Apr. 365 Talkie-producers..arrange what are termed ‘laugh-gaps’ in order that the voices of the performers may not be drowned by applause.
1957 P. G. Wodehouse Over Seventy xvi. 154 Somebody has invented what is known as a laugh machine which can produce completely artificial laughter.
1984 Listener 21 June 35/4 Bogey as a vampire zombie is the great laugh-getter of the week.
2000 S. Bellow Ravelstein 223 So when I made my remark about the pictures, Ravelstein had given me his explosive laugh-stammer ‘Har har’.
C2.
† laugh-dove n. Obsolete rare a laugher pigeon (laugher n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > perching birds > order Columbiformes (pigeons, etc.) > [noun] > family Columbidae > member of genus Streptopelia > streptopelia senegalensis (laughing dove)
laugher1735
laugh-dove1755
laughing dove1814
1755 Man No. 6. 1 The cry of the laugh-dove comes the nearest to it [sc. laughter in man] in tone and shake.
laugh line n. (a) (usually in plural) = laughter line n. at laughter n.1 Compounds 2; (b) (in a play, film, or other entertainment) a line intended to make the audience laugh.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > skin > textures or states of skin > [noun] > wrinkle
rimpleeOE
rivellingOE
rivelc1325
crow's footc1374
frounce1390
wrinklea1400
frumplec1440
freckle1519
line1538
lirkc1540
shrivel1547
plait1574
furrow1589
trench1594
crowfoot1614
seam1765
thought-line1858
laughter line1867
laugh line1913
smile-line1921
worry lines1972
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > a play > [noun] > words spoken by actors > types of
cue1553
anteloquy1623
aside1728
catchword1755
side soliloquy1842
gag1847
gravy1864
fluff1891
laugh line1913
rhubarb1919
curtain line1939
walla1949
1913 E. Ferber Roast Beef Medium x. 264 Up went the corners of her mouth! Out popped her dimples! The laugh-lines appeared at the corners of her eyes.
1925 T. H. Dickinson Playwrights of New Amer. Theatre 232 The source of his comedy is always an inner essence and not an artificial agglomeration of laugh lines and sure-fire situations.
2001 J. Weiner Good in Bed iii. xiv. 239 His full lips were bracketed by deep laugh lines.
2001 Chicago Tribune 3 Dec. ii. 2/1 David Pasquesi..is extraordinary here, turning the simple question ‘Where's the phone?’ into a huge laugh line.
laugh-maker n. a person who makes others laugh.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > causing laughter > [noun] > humour > humorist
humorist1600
laugh-maker1827
1827 W. Kitchiner Traveller's Oracle I. 63 Our Superlative Laugh-maker, O'Keefe.
1949 L. Morris Not so Long Ago 99 A misadventure taught him one of the camera tricks that he was soon to exploit as a laugh-maker.
2003 H. Y. Sharada Prasad Bk. I won't be writing & Other Ess. xlv. 230 A true laugh-maker has to be versatile.
laugh meter n. any of various devices used to measure or indicate the volume (or another quality) of laughter, and hence to gauge the humour of a performance, joke, etc.; also figurative; cf. laugh-o-meter n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > [noun] > device for measuring laughter
laugh-o-meter1907
laugh meter1910
1910 N.-Y. Tribune 25 Sept. v. 7/5 (advt.) The laugh meter rings the bell on every line.
1919 Olean (N.Y.) Evening Herald 2 June 4/3 (advt.) Taylor Holmes will make your laugh meter register to its capacity in ‘Taxi’.
1960 Spectator 28 Oct. 655/3 Managers whose henchmen have sat through countless performances..with stop-watches and laugh-meters.
2007 J. Lipton Inside Inside vii. 150 They'd discovered that the heart monitor beeping over his head could function as a laugh meter, and, in a lively competition, were taking turns telling jokes to the agonized patient.
laugh riot n. an extremely amusing or entertaining person or thing.
ΚΠ
1911 New Brunswick (New Jersey) Times 6 Nov. 3/5 (advt.) Always a laugh riot. Joe Weston's ‘School Days’.
1987 J. Humphreys Rich in Love vi. 134 ‘They can name any problem, and I've got the answer.’.. ‘Sex can be cured?’ ‘You're a laugh riot.’
2003 High Country News 3 Feb. 15/3 An advertising agency in New York must have thought its commercial for Metamucil, an over-the-counter laxative, was a laugh riot.
laugh track n. a recording of audience laughter added to the soundtrack of a comedy programme; cf. canned laughter n. at canned adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > cinematography > a film > [noun] > sound track
sound track1929
track1931
wild track1940
laugh track1952
premix1960
1952 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 25 Dec. 34/2 TV sponsors and producers believe they have hit upon a device which will allow them to duck their responsibility for entertaining video viewers. It's called a ‘laugh track’.
1969 Punch 5 Feb. 193/3 The absence of a laugh track which would only foul up the pace.
2005 Daily Tel. 14 June 16/1 Americans prefer their TV comedies to be fast-paced, gag-driven and laden with obvious laugh tracks.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

laughv.

Brit. /lɑːf/, /laf/, U.S. /læf/
Forms: 1. Present stem.

α. early Old English hliehan, early Old English hliehchan, early Old English hliehhan, Old English hlehhan, Old English hlichan (rare), Old English hlihan, Old English hlihcan (rare), Old English hlihchan (rare), Old English hlihgan (rare), Old English hlihhan, Old English hlychan (rare), Old English hlyhhan, Old English hlyhð (3rd singular indicative), late Old English hlethað (plural indicative, perhaps transmission error), early Middle English hleihe, early Middle English leche, early Middle English leiche, early Middle English leige, Middle English leȝe, Middle English leȝȝe, Middle English lehȝe, Middle English leigȝe, Middle English leighȝe, Middle English leiȝe, Middle English leiȝhe, Middle English leihe, Middle English leyghe, Middle English leyȝe, Middle English leyȝhe, Middle English leyhe, Middle English lheȝe (south-eastern), Middle English lheȝȝe (south-eastern), Middle English liȝe, Middle English liȝhe, Middle English lihȝe, Middle English liyhe, Middle English lyghe, Middle English lyȝe, Middle English lyȝhe, Middle English lyhe; English regional (Lancashire) 1700s leigh, 1800s– laigh, 1800s– laith, 1800s– leygh; Irish English (Wexford) 1700s–1800s leigh, 1800s leeigh; N.E.D. (1902) also records a form Middle English leeȝe.

β. Old English hlæhan (Anglian), late Old English hlahan, early Middle English lachȝe, early Middle English lahȝhenn ( Ormulum), early Middle English lahhe, early Middle English lahhȝhenn ( Ormulum), Middle English laghe, Middle English laghh, Middle English laghwe, Middle English laȝe, Middle English laȝhe, Middle English lah, Middle English lahȝe, Middle English laqwe, Middle English lauch (chiefly northern), Middle English laue, Middle English laughhe, Middle English laughwe, Middle English lauȝ, Middle English lauȝe, Middle English lauȝȝe, Middle English lauȝhe, Middle English lauȝwe, Middle English lauȝwhe, Middle English lauh, Middle English lauhe, Middle English lauhhe, Middle English lauhwe, Middle English lauhwhe, Middle English lawche, Middle English lawe, Middle English lawȝe, Middle English lawȝhe, Middle English lawhwe, Middle English lawwhe, Middle English laygh, Middle English lowe, Middle English–1500s lahe, Middle English–1500s lawgh, Middle English–1500s lawghe, Middle English–1500s lawhe, Middle English–1600s lagh, Middle English–1600s laughe, Middle English– laugh, 1500s laughen (archaic), 1500s laugth (3rd singular indicative), 1500s lawghen (archaic), 1500s loughe, 1500s–1600s laffe, 1600s lauff, 1600s lawf, 1600s loffe, 1800s– laff (regional); English regional 1800s laaf, 1800s– laf, 1800s– lafe, 1800s– lof, 1800s– loff, 1800s– lough; Scottish pre-1700 lache, pre-1700 lacht, pre-1700 lagh, pre-1700 lauche, pre-1700 laucht, pre-1700 laught, pre-1700 lawche, pre-1700 lawgh, pre-1700 1700s– lach, pre-1700 1700s– lauch, pre-1700 1700s– laugh, pre-1700 1700s– lawch, pre-1700 1900s– laich, 1800s lauwch, 1900s– laach (northern), 1900s– liach (Orkney); N.E.D. (1902) also records forms Middle English laȝwe, Middle English layhyn, Middle English loȝe, 1500s laȝe.

γ. Scottish 1800s leugh, 1900s– leuch; U.S. regional 1900s– leuch.

2. Past tense. a. Strong.

α. Old English hlog, Old English hloh, Middle English loch, Middle English loge, Middle English loghe, Middle English loȝ, Middle English loȝe, Middle English loh, Middle English lohȝ, Middle English lohu, Middle English lohw, Middle English looȝ, Middle English loowe, Middle English loowȝ, Middle English loughe, Middle English louȝ, Middle English louȝe, Middle English louȝh, Middle English louh, Middle English louhe, Middle English love, Middle English lovȝ, Middle English lowe, Middle English lowgȝ, Middle English lowgh, Middle English lowghe, Middle English lowght, Middle English lowȝ, Middle English lowȝe, Middle English lowȝhe, Middle English lowh, Middle English lowhe, Middle English–1500s lou, Middle English–1500s lough, Middle English–1500s low, Middle English (1600s Welsh English) logh, late Middle English louke (transmission error), late Middle English lowgehn (plural, transmission error), 1600s loffe; English regional (northern) 1800s lough (Lancashire); Scottish pre-1700 louch, pre-1700 lowch, pre-1700 lowche, 1800s lough.

β. Middle English leuȝe, Middle English lew, Middle English lewȝ, Middle English lewȝe, Middle English lewh, Middle English lugh, Middle English lughe, 1500s leughe, 1500s lewgh, 1500s lewghe; English regional (northern) 1800s leugh (Northumberland), 1800s– leug (Cumberland); Scottish pre-1700 leuche, pre-1700 leughe, pre-1700 leuiche, pre-1700 leuth, pre-1700 lewche, pre-1700 lewgh, pre-1700 luch, pre-1700 luche, pre-1700 luich, pre-1700 luiche, pre-1700 luyche, pre-1700 1700s– leuch, pre-1700 1700s– leugh, pre-1700 1800s lewch, 1800s leuwch, 1800s– lyooch, 1900s– leough (Orkney), 1900s– lyuch; N.E.D. (1902) also records forms Scottish pre-1700 leuȝe, pre-1700 lugh, pre-1700 lughe.

γ. Middle English leie, Middle English leigh.

b. Weak.

α. Middle English laged, Middle English laȝed, Middle English lahed, Middle English lauchet (north-west midlands), Middle English laugete, Middle English laughede, Middle English laughet, Middle English lauȝed, Middle English lauȝhede, Middle English lauhwede, Middle English lawede, Middle English lawghed, Middle English lawȝwede, Middle English lawhed, Middle English lawhede, Middle English lawhyd, Middle English loght, Middle English louched, Middle English–1500s lawght, Middle English–1700s laught, Middle English– laughed, late Middle English lacked (transmission error), 1500s laft, 1500s–1600s lought, 1600s larght, 1600s laugh't, 1600s laughd, 1800s lauched (Irish English (northern)); English regional 1800s loft (Cornwall), 1800s lowft (Lancashire); Scottish pre-1700 lauchit, pre-1700 laught, pre-1700 lawcht, pre-1700 1700s– laucht, 1800s– lauched, 1900s– lachit, 1900s– lauchet.

β. Scottish pre-1700 leucht, pre-1700 leught, pre-1700 lucht, 1800s– leuched.

γ. Middle English leiȝede, Middle English leyghed, 1800s– laithed (English regional (Lancashire)); N.E.D. (1902) also records a form Middle English leiȝide.

3. Past participle. a. Strong.

α. late Middle English laughwen, late Middle English lawhen, late Middle English–1600s laughen, 1500s lawghen; Scottish pre-1700 lachin, pre-1700 laughen, pre-1700 lawchin, 1700s laughin, 1700s laughten, 1800s– lauchen, 1900s– laachen (Shetland).

β. Scottish 1800s leuch, 1800s leuchin, 1900s– leuchen.

b. Weak.

α. late Middle English laughede, late Middle English lauȝed, late Middle English–1500s lawghed, late Middle English– laughed, 1500s laugyd, 1600s laffed, 1500s–1600s 1800s laught; Scottish pre-1700 lached, 1900s– laacht (Shetland), 1900s– lauched, 1900s– laucht.

β. Scottish 1800s leugh't, 1900s– leuched, 1900s– leucht.

See also larf v.
Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian hlakkia , hlākia , laittia (weak verb, past tense hlakkade ; West Frisian laitsje ), Middle Dutch lachen , past tense (strong Class VI) loech , also occasionally (weak) lachede , lachte , past participle (strong Class VI) gelachen , also occasionally (weak) gelacht (Dutch lachen , past tense lachte , past participle gelachen ), Old Saxon *hlahhian (strong Class VI, only attested in inflected forms: past tense plural hlōgun , past participle hlagan (attested for the derivative bihlahhian ); Middle Low German (weak) lachen , past tense lachte ), Old High German *hlahhen (strong Class VI, only attested in a glossary in the 3rd singular past tense hlōc ), also hlahhēn (weak Class III, past tense hlahhēta ; Middle High German, German lachen (weak), past tense lachte , past participle gelacht ), Old Icelandic hlæja (strong Class VI, past tense singular hló , past tense plural hlógu , past participle hleginn ), Old Swedish leia (strong, past tense lo ; Swedish le , past tense log ), Old Danish le (strong, past tense lo ; Danish le , past tense lo ), Gothic hlahjan (strong Class VI, past tense singular *hloh , past tense plural hlohun (attested for the derivative bihlahjan )), Crimean Gothic lachen , all probably ultimately of imitative origin, probably < an Indo-European base of imitative origin; similar formations are seen in e.g. Byzantine Greek κλώσσειν to cluck, Old Church Slavonic klokotati , Old Russian klokotat′ (Russian klokotat′ ) to bubble, boil, gargle, Russian kloktat′ , kloxtat′ to cluck, and the words cited at clock n.1 In Germanic a Class VI strong verb with so-called ‘weak present’; the evidence of Old English and of other languages in which sufficient of the paradigm is preserved indicates the presence in the present stem of a stem-forming suffix with *-j- which is absent from the past tense and past participle stems.(i) Form history: present stem. The present tense forms in Old English show West Germanic consonant gemination (hliehhan , hlihhan etc.), due to the stem-forming j -suffix, although this is occasionally simplified in spelling (hliehan , etc.), perhaps by analogy with the 2nd and 3rd singular indicative forms (where gemination is regularly absent; compare 3rd singular hlihð ). The Old English forms also show breaking of the original stem vowel æ to ea before the stem-final velar fricative (compare West Saxon hleahtor laughter n.1), and (in α. forms) subsequent i-mutation due to the stem-forming suffix, resulting in West Saxon ie (which frequently appears as i before the palatalized fricative: West Saxon hliehhan , hlihhan , (late) hlyhhan ), and non-West Saxon e (hlehhan ), which happens to be attested only in West Saxon texts showing non-West Saxon influence. In Middle English, forms such as leȝe , leigh , etc. are especially characteristic of the east midlands and the south-east. These α. forms continue hlehhan , with leigh showing the development of a glide before the stem final palatal fricative; it has also been suggested that forms such as leigh were reinforced by the influence of the early Scandinavian cognate (compare Old Icelandic hlæja ). The β. forms of the present stem, which go back to Old English (Anglian) hlæhan (for *hlæhhan ), also show breaking of the stem vowel, but instead of the expected i-mutation they show smoothing of resulting ea to æ (perhaps by analogy with the noun: West Saxon hleahtor , Anglian *hlæhtor laughter n.1). The frequent development of a velar glide in these forms in Middle English (agh > augh ) proves a velar quality of the fricative, either by restitution or (more likely) because it had never been palatalized (which might explain the failure of i-mutation). The diphthong au was probably shortened toward the end of the Middle English period in the varieties which gave rise to later standard English (compare early modern English laffe ), but subsequently lengthened again to /ɑː/ before the following voiceless fricative in some varieties, including standard British English (see E. J. Dobson Eng. Pronunc. 1500–1700 (ed. 2, 1968) II. §§ 24, 28). With the development of the final voiceless velar fricative /x/ compare e.g. rough adj., enough adj., and also (in pre-consonantal position) draught n. and draft n.; see also discussion at G n. It has been suggested that Middle English spellings such as lauhwhe , lauhwe are early reflections of this development. (ii) Forms of the past tense and past participle. In Old English a strong verb of Class VI, with past tense (1st and 3rd singular) hlōg , (plural) hlōgon (showing regular levelling of the voiced velar fricative to the singular as elsewhere for this class; compare e.g. slay v.1). The regular Middle English reflex of these forms is lou , lowe ; however, the consonant became devoiced word-finally in the singular in Old English, and the form with devoicing is continued by Middle English lough (frequently with development of a glide before the fricative); compare Forms 2a α. , and see further R. Jordan Handb. der mittelenglischen Grammatik (1934) §§112, 125. Forms 2a β. (strong past tense forms such as Middle English lewȝ , Older Scots leuch ) mostly show the regular northern Middle English and Older Scots development of long close ō before an (originally intervocalic) voiced velar fricative (see R. Jordan Handb. der mittelenglischen Grammatik (1934) §§119, 128, A. J. Aitken & C. Macafee Older Scots Vowels (2002) §7.2.2 and (for the possibility that some Scots forms at Forms 2a α. may, in fact, be reflexes of forms in eu ) §6.5.3(2)), although occasional forms may show influence from the past tense of verbs such as know v. Forms 2a γ. (strong past tense forms such as Middle English leigh ) perhaps show the vowel of the α forms of the present stem, but may be influenced by seigh , past tense of see v., and similar forms. In Scots the vocalism of the strong past tense (leuch ) is occasionally extended to the strong past participle (where a reflex of the vowel of the present stem without i-mutation is expected; compare late Middle English laughen , Older Scots lawchin ) and (rarely) even to the present stem; see β. forms of the strong past participle and γ. forms of the present stem. Strong forms of the past tense and past participle are still found regionally in Scots and northern English. Weak forms first develop in Middle English (rare before the second half of the 14th cent.), and these are now the only standard forms. Scots occasionally extends the vocalism of the strong past tense to the weak past tense and past participle (see β forms). Some of the α. forms of the weak past tense probably also reflect the vowel of the strong past tense rather than the vowel of the present stem (compare Middle English loght , louched ). (iii) Prefixed forms. In Old English the prefixed form (Northumbrian) gehlæha to laugh at, deride, is also attested (compare y- prefix); compare also ahlyhhan to laugh, exult, to laugh at (compare a- prefix1), behlyhhan bilauh v., and (Northumbrian) inhlæha to laugh at (compare in- prefix1).
1.
a. To make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body usual in expressing joy, mirth, amusement, or (sometimes) derision; to have the same reaction in response to being tickled; to emit laughter. Also in extended use: to feel joy, mirth, amusement, or derision without such accompanying sounds and movements.
(a) intransitive. Without construction.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (intransitive)]
laugheOE
larf1832
hoot1926
yock1938
yock1938
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxvii. 187 Wa eow ðe nu hliehað, forðam ge sculon eft wepan.
OE Ælfric Old Eng. Hexateuch: Gen. (Claud.) xviii. 15 Ða ætsoc Sarra: Ne hloh ic na... God cwæð þa: Nys hyt na swa, ac þu hloge.
OE Prudentius Glosses (Boulogne 189) in H. D. Meritt Old Eng. Prudentius Glosses (1959) 22 [Pectora] rident : hlihcaþ.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 5663 He wepeþþ ec forr alle þa Þatt lahȝhenn her wiþþ sinne.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8142 He warrþ swiþe bliþe þa, & toc to lahhȝhenn lhude.
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 127 (MED) Mann is swa blind ðat he farð to helle leiȝinde.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 170 & þenne wið spredde armes leapeð lachȝinde to.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) l. 2233 Þe king bigan somdel to lyhe, þo he hurde þis.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1582 Sche com wiþ adrink of main and louȝ.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 653 (MED) Þenne þe burde byhynde þe dor for busmar laȝed.
a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) l. 3464 (MED) When he hir saw, ful fast he logh; Him liked it wele in his hert, Þat he saw hir so in quert.
c1450 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women (Fairf. 16) (1879) Prol. l. 93 Ryght so mowe ye oute of myn hert bringe Swich vois ryght as yow lyst to laughe or pleyn.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 86 Ye lawhyd for ye were wel plesyd.
c1500 (?a1475) Assembly of Gods (1896) l. 404 Pan gan to carpe Of hys lewde bagpype, whyche caused the company To lawe.
1585 C. Fetherston tr. J. Calvin Comm. Actes Apostles viii. 13. 189 The Epicures & Lucianists doe professe that they belieue, where as notwithstanding they laugh inwardly.
1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 55 Then the whole Quire hould their hippes, and loffe.
a1657 W. Mure Misc. Poems in Wks. (1898) I. ii. 88 Lauching to sie my trickling teirs doune go.
1676 T. Hobbes tr. Homer Iliads i. 561 And then the Gods laught all at once outright.
1728 A. Ramsay Anacreontic on Love 32 He leugh and with unsonsy jest, Cry'd, ‘Nibour, I'm right blyth in mind.’
1754 Earl of Chatham Lett. to Nephew (1804) v. 35 It is generally better to smile than laugh out.
1839 E. W. Lane tr. Thousand & One Nights I. 98 The 'Efreet laughed, and, walking on before him, said, O fisherman, follow me.
1890 H. Caine Bondman I. x. 223 Then she laughed like a bell.
1923 R. Herrick Homely Lilla 68 She found herself laughing freely with the grape-pickers.
1961 B. Crump Hang on a Minute Mate 18 My mate reckoned he'd never laughed so much since his brother's pig-dogs got loose and followed him into the Waitawheta dance hall!
1992 Out Summer 24/1 There are very few authors publishing today who make us laugh out loud.
2005 J. Weiner Goodnight Nobody iii. 25 She'd told me her kids were named Tristan and Isolde, and I'd laughed.
†(b) transitive. With the thing laughed at as object. Obsolete. rare.In Old English with genitive of object.
ΚΠ
eOE King Ælfred tr. Gregory Pastoral Care (Hatton) (1871) xxxiv. 231 Sua micle mede..sua we habbað ðæs hleahtres, ðonne we hliehað gligmonna unnyttes cræftes.
c1400 (a1376) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Trin. Cambr. R.3.14) (1960) A. viii. l. 107 I shal..beloure þat I louȝ [a1425 Wales 733B lowgh, a1475 Harl. 3954 laughed, 1532 Digby love; c1450 Harl. 6041 belouȝ] er þeiȝ liflode me faile.
(c) intransitive. With preposition (esp. at, over) indicating the object of laughter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (transitive)] > recall or repeat with laughter
laugha1225
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 57 Ðe woreld-mann lihtliche leicheð of ydelnesse ðe he isieð oðer iherð, al swa ðe gastliche mann..lihtliche wepð oðer sobbeð.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 7474 Þan king þuhte gomen inoh, for hire spæche he loh.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 2722 Sare..Herd þis word and lohu [Fairf. loghe, Trin. Cambr. lowȝe] þar-att.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 1 Whan folk hadde laughen at this nyce cas.
c1450 C. d'Orleans Poems (1941) 174 (MED) He fel and had fortore His hose, at which fulle many of hem lough.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 226 Whereat they laugh't a good.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 65 He had the picture of a foole at the entrance,..laughing on an Urinall in his hand.
1739 E. Phillips Britons, strike Home 4 Ha, ha, ha! I cannot but laugh at the Oddity of Mr. Meanwell's Conceit.
1764 O. Goldsmith Traveller 2 Where all the ruddy family around Laugh at the jests.
1821 Ld. Byron Don Juan: Canto IV iv. 73 If I laugh at any mortal thing, 'Tis that I may not weep.
1880 ‘Mrs. Forrester’ Roy & Viola I. 7 Dreams, indeed, my dear!..I have not forgotten them: I often laugh heartily over them.
1920 E. Ferber Half Portions vi. 192 He laughed, admiringly, at that and said she was a card.
1966 J. Potts Footsteps on Stairs (1967) iii. 38 Hazel had to laugh, just at the sight of him up there on the step-stool.
2000 M. Barrowcliffe Girlfriend 44 iv. 118 We would go to Sainsbury's together only to laugh over the organic vegetables.
2002 G. Gordon in Writing Wrongs 65 Mrs Macrae laughs inwardly at the pronunciation of her name.
b. intransitive poetic and literary. Of an inanimate object: to appear lively with movement, sound, or the play of light and colour, as if expressing joyous feeling.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (intransitive)] > of inanimate objects
laugha1398
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xiv. l. 721 [For] fayrenesse and grene springynge þat is þerinne, it is yseyde þat meedes laghweþ.
c1405 (c1385) G. Chaucer Knight's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 636 Firy Phebus riseth vp so brighte That al the Orient. laugheth of the lighte.
a1500 (a1400) Awntyrs Arthure (Douce) l. 162 (MED) My lere, [was] as þe lele, louched one highte [c1475 Ireland that lauchet so lyȝte].
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lxv. 13 The valleys stonde so thicke with corne yt they laugh and synge.
1692 T. Fletcher Poems Several Occasions 41 If the Heavens laugh a while, From the Heav'ns I learn to smile.
1725 A. Pope tr. Homer Odyssey I. iii. 601 In the dazling goblet laughs the wine.
1785 W. Cowper Task vi. 817 The fruitful field Laughs with abundance.
a1807 W. Wordsworth Prelude (1959) iv. 126 The Sea was laughing at a distance.
1841 N. Hawthorne Famous Old People i. 10 The wood-fire..laughs broadly through the room.
1875 H. W. Longfellow Masque of Pandora 12 The waters of a brook that run Limpid and laughing in the summer sun!
1922 F. S. Fitzgerald in Smart Set June 26/2 The leaves laughed in the sun and their laughter shook the trees.
2001 J. Macy Widening Circles viii. 90 On the day of our audience with the Dalai Lama the sun laughed from the snowpeaks and the glinting streams.
c. intransitive. Of an animal, esp. a hyena: to call or cry in a manner suggestive of human laughter.
ΚΠ
1765 Crit. Rev. 20 335 The ancients conveyed to the moderns a notion that the Hyæna could imitate a man's voice;..why may not the Hyæna laugh as well as speak?
1816 M. Betham Lay of Marie 215 At them the hyenas laugh; wolves grin with ravenous joy.
1880 T. W. Nutt Melbourne Palace Industry 15 Where clock-bird laughed and sweet wild flowers throve.
1930 W. M. Mann Wild Animals in & out of Zoo vii. 112 We could always make our spotted hyena..laugh by holding his meat an extra moment or two on the outside of the bars.
1943 C. E. Goode Bridge Party at Boyanup 25 A jackass laughed from a mountain ash near a sleeper cutter's camp.
1987 G. Turner Sea & Summer 111 In the silence a distant kookaburra laughed.
2006 Jerusalem Post (Nexis) 31 Mar. 30 Why do hyenas laugh? Why do zebras have stripes?
2.
†a. transitive. To mock, deride; to make an object of ridicule. Obsolete.In Old English frequently with genitive of object.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)]
teleeOE
laughOE
bismerc1000
heascenc1000
hethec1175
scornc1175
hokera1225
betell?c1225
scorn?c1225
forhushc1275
to make scorn at, toc1320
boba1382
bemow1388
lakea1400
bobby14..
triflea1450
japec1450
mock?c1450
mowc1485
to make (a) mock at?a1500
to make mocks at?a1500
scrip?a1513
illude1516
delude1526
deride1530
louta1547
to toy with ——1549–62
flout1551
skirp1568
knack1570
to fart against1574
frump1577
bourd1593
geck?a1600
scout1605
subsannate1606
railly1612
explode1618
subsannea1620
dor1655
monkeya1658
to make an ass of (someone)1680
ridicule1680
banter1682
to run one's rig upon1735
fun1811
to get the run upon1843
play1891
to poke mullock at1901
razz1918
flaunt1923
to get (or give) the razoo1926
to bust (a person's) chops1953
wolf1966
pimp1968
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > laugh to scorn
laugheOE
laughOE
bilauhOE
to laugh to scorn (also bismer, hething, hoker)OE
to laugh or take to scorninga1400
deride1530
outlaugh1605
smile1608
arride1612
fleer1622
irride1637
haw-haw1862
OE (Northumbrian) Lindisf. Gospels: Luke xxiii. 35 Deridebant illum principes : bismeredon uel hlogon hine ða aldormenn.
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xxxiii. 281 Hwæt ða apostoli ða hlogon þæra deofla leasunga.
?c1400 (c1380) G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (BL Add. 10340) (1868) ii. met. i. l. 828 She [sc. Fortune] lauȝeþ and scorneþ þe wepyng of hem þe whiche she haþ maked wepe wiþ hir free wille [L. gemitus..quos fecit ridet].
a1560 W. Kennedy Passioun of Christ in J. A. W. Bennett Devotional Pieces (1955) 651 To eik his [sc. Christ's] wo, the moir thai leuch his pane.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Jan. 66 She..laughes the songes, that Colin Clout doth make.
1633 P. Fletcher Purple Island viii. xiv. 110 Just frights he laughs, all terrours counteth base.
a1648 W. Percy Cuck-queanes & Cuckolds Errants (1824) iii. vii. 43 Now they be laughing the Gentleman, for it, furth his coate, all.
b. intransitive. With at. To mock, deride; to make fun of. In early use also with †of, †on, †over, †upon.Also in prepositional passive.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > laugh to scorn
laugheOE
laughOE
bilauhOE
to laugh to scorn (also bismer, hething, hoker)OE
to laugh or take to scorninga1400
deride1530
outlaugh1605
smile1608
arride1612
fleer1622
irride1637
haw-haw1862
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) li. 6 (8) Uidebunt iusti et..super eum ridebunt : gesiað rehtwise &..ofer hine hlæhað [OE Lambeth Psalter hlihchað].
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. l. 8674 Þan said þe kyng & on hym louh [a1450 Lamb. low], ‘It were þan grete ferly.’
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Fire of Love 7 (MED) Of an innocentis payns þou laghys.
c1450 (c1375) G. Chaucer Anelida & Arcite (Fairf. 16) (1878) l. 234 He laugheth at my peyne.
1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope ii. xii Of the euylle of other, men ought not to lawhe ne scorne.
a1535 T. More Hist. Richard III in Wks. (1557) 55/1 He laughed vpon him, as though he would say, ye shal haue sone.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. xviijv A lighte and verye weake reason..& euen laughed at of the Romanes them selues.
a1586 Peblis to Play in W. A. Craigie Maitland Folio MS (1919) I. 178 All þat luikit þame vpon leuche fast at þair array.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies i. i. 2 In his Commentaries vpon the Epistle to the Hebrewes, he doth laugh at those, which hold the heavens to be round.
1668 T. Shadwell Sullen Lovers Pref. The rejected Authors of our time, who when their Playes are damn'd, will strut, and huff it out, and laugh at the Ignorance of the Age.
1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 202 Our Major was..laughed at by the whole Army.
1787 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 214 How graceless Ham leugh at his Dad.
1805 R. Anderson Ballads in Cumberland Dial. 11 Far maist I leugh at Grizzy Brown.
1807 Salmagundi 20 Mar. 117 Giving parties to people who laugh at them.
1880 L. Stephen Alexander Pope iv. 89 Though Pope laughed at the advice, we might fancy that he took it to heart.
1913 G. Stratton-Porter Laddie xi. 340 I'll wager a strong young girl like the Princess will laugh at you for babying over her.
1966 Maclean's 2 May 50/4 I was constantly laughed at, pointed at and corrected.
1996 Minx Nov. 146/1 I can't stand the thought of them laughing at me behind my back.
†3. intransitive. With preposition (esp. on, upon). To regard with affection or goodwill; to smile at or upon. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Old Eng. Martyrol. (Julius) 5 Apr. 50 He [sc. St Ambrose] sæde þæt he gesawe Crist selfne, ond þæt he him hloge to.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 9253 Ofte he hire lokede on..ofte he hire loh to, & makede hire letes.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) 903 The kok stod, and on him low. And þoute him stalworþe man ynow.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 37 (MED) Þ[at] lussom, when heo on me loh, ybend wax eyþer breȝe.
c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xi. l. 203 For-þi loue we as leue bretheren shal and vche man laughe vp other.
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 5061 She..laugheth on hym, and makith hym feeste.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 1092 (MED) For þe world laghes on man and smyles, Bot at þe last it him bygyles.
a1425 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1869) I. 150 Ȝif..þe world leiȝe to him in killynge of his enemyes.
c1500 Sir Corneus in M. M. Furrow Ten 15th-cent. Comic Poems (1985) 283 (MED) The kyng..fast..lowȝhe þe erle vpon And bad he schuld be glad.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Esdras iv. 31 Yf she laughed vpon him, he laughed also: but yf she toke eny displeasure with him, the kynge was fayne to flater her, & to geue her good wordes, till he had gotten hir fauoure agayne.
1669 S. Pepys Diary 7 Jan. (1976) IX. 410 A bold merry slut [sc. Nell Gwyn], who lay laughing there upon people.
4.
a. transitive. To say or express with a laugh; (also) to utter as a laugh. Chiefly with that-clause or direct speech as object.In quot. 1609 with out.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (transitive)] > utter with laughter
laugheOE
the mind > language > speech > manner of speaking > say in a particular manner [verb (transitive)] > with a sneer, laugh, etc.
laugheOE
simper1567
sneer1693
titter1787
chuckle out1820
snigger1857
sniff1859
smile1860
smirk1879
eOE Battle of Brunanburh (Parker) 47 Gelpan ne þorfte beorn blandenfeax bilgeslehtes, eald inwidda, ne Anlaf þy ma; mid heora herelafum hlehhan ne þorftun þæt heo beaduweorca beteran wurdun on campstede.
1609 W. Shakespeare Troilus & Cressida i. iii. 163 The large Achilles..laughes out a lowd applause. View more context for this quotation
1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 241 ‘He, he!’ faintly laughed Mr. Lovel.
1839 J. H. Ingraham Capt. Kyd I. iv. 130 ‘This is only the anteroom to it. Ha, ha!’ she laughed frightfully.
1844 E. B. Barrett Drama of Exile in Poems I. 85 For is all laughed in vain?
1857 C. Brontë Professor II. xxii. 134 ‘I wonder whether you'll be still out of place!’ he laughed, as mockingly, as heartlessly as Mephistopheles.
1917 R. H. Patterson Eve, Junior viii. 108 The hand that held the weapon trembled as a cur trembles at the voice of its master, and Carroll laughed his disdain.
1944 C. Beaton Diary 8 Nov. in Self Portrait with Friends (1979) xv. 158 He sat in profile and laughed that I should not make him look like Whistler's mother.
1986 J. Barnes Staring at Sun II. 126 ‘Can you lend me a nightdress?’ Rachel laughed that she didn't own one.
2002 C. Williams Sugar & Slate 98 ‘They call us Frosties,’ he laughs.
b. transitive. With cognate object. To emit (a laugh or laughter).
ΚΠ
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 96 Efter þire wordis, A lowde laȝter he loȝe.
c1470 King Estmere l. 235 in D. Laing Early Sc. Metrical Tales (1889) 245 The ladye lough a loud laughter, As shee sate by the king.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 890 They laughed a Sardonians laugh, not knowing how darkely his deedes had wrapt them in.
c1650 Lord of Learne 215 in F. J. Furnivall Percy Folio (1867) I. 190 A loud laughter the Ladie lought.
1713 J. Floyer tr. Sibylline Oracles i. 9 You shall laugh the Sardonian Laughter when this thing shall come to pass.
1842 Ld. Tennyson Lady Clare in Poems (new ed.) II. 199 He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn.
1871 R. Ellis tr. Catullus Poems xxxi. 14 Laugh out whatever laughter at the hearth rings clear.
1923 A. Huxley Antic Hay x. 150 He laughed a happy little laugh.
1968 A. K. Armah Beautyful Ones are not yet Born (1969) i. 6 The conductor laughed a crackling laugh.
2002 N. McDonell Twelve lv. 138 Theodore laughs a big wheezy laugh, like a bus kneeling to let a wheelchair passenger get on.
5. transitive. With complement. To bring (a person or (occasionally) thing) into a particular state or position by laughing. Frequently in to laugh (a person) out of it: to persuade (a person) out of a depressed or serious mood with laughter.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > laugh [verb (transitive)] > produce effect in by laughing
laugha1387
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration > with laughter
laugha1387
to laugh out1566
to laugh away1590
to laugh over1627
to laugh off1676
the mind > emotion > pleasure > state of being consoled or relieved > be relieved of [verb (transitive)] > console or relieve > with laughter
laugha1387
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1865) I. 305 (MED) Þey haue an herbe..þat makeþ men laughe hem selue to deþ.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (1856) 57 Yes, yes, by my trouth, I holde the a grote, That I shall laughe the out of thy cote.
1577 N. Breton Wks. Young Wyt f. 37v With thousandes more that were to long to tell, but made me laugh my hart sore, I wot wel.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) ii. i. 193 Will you laugh me asleepe, for I am very heauy. View more context for this quotation
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) ii. ii. 126 Angels..who with our spleenes, Would all themselues laugh mortall. View more context for this quotation
1679 J. Goodman Penitent Pardoned (1713) ii. ii. 196 The company..laughed the cunning man out of countenance.
1702 R. Steele Funeral ii. 20 I Laugh her out of it, when she begins to Frown.
c1712 J. Swift Hints Ess. Conversat. in Wks. (1765) XIII. 262 Love, honour, friendship, generosity,..under the name of fopperies, have been for some time laughed out of doors.
1785 W. Cowper Task ii. 321 Whom [has it] laughed into reform?
1838 J. C. Hare & A. W. Hare Guesses at Truth (ed. 2) 1st Ser. 327 Is there anybody living..who has not often been laught out of what he ought to have done, and laught into what he ought not to have done.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters x. 268 A fellow who will joke and laugh the money out of your pocket.
1918 F. B. Young Crescent Moon v. 96 Eva tried to laugh him out of it, to make him ashamed of being afraid.
1926 D. Hammett in Black Mask Feb. 67/2 ‘You sell me out, you damned gorilla, and I'll—’ He laughed the threat out of being, his dark face young and careless again.
1954 J. Thompson Nothing Man vii. 74 You'd be laughed out of town if you tried to pin the job on one of your typical fall guys.
2002 Echoes May 28/4 This is an hour's non-stop ride of African and Latin percussion..and enough joy of life to have you laughing yourself to sleep.

Phrases

P1. Phrases.
a. to laugh to scorn (also †bismer, †hething, †hoker): to deride, to ridicule.In Old English with genitive of person. In Middle English originally with dative of person; later apprehended as transitive with the person as object: cf. sense 5.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > deride, ridicule, or mock [verb (transitive)] > laugh to scorn
laugheOE
laughOE
bilauhOE
to laugh to scorn (also bismer, hething, hoker)OE
to laugh or take to scorninga1400
deride1530
outlaugh1605
smile1608
arride1612
fleer1622
irride1637
haw-haw1862
OE Note on Old Test. Figures (Tiber. A.iii) in Anglia (1889) 11 2 He getælde his fæder noe..& his to bismere hloh.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 197 Hwen ȝe habbeð hardi bi leaue. nulle ȝe buten lachȝen him lude to bismare.
a1250 Wohunge ure Lauerd in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 283 (MED) Swete ihesu..ha..lahhen þe to hokere þer þu o rode hengest.
c1350 How Good Wife taught her Daughter (Emmanuel) (1948) l. 15 (MED) Lau þou noȝt to scorn neiþer olde no ȝunge.
c1390 in C. Horstmann Minor Poems Vernon MS (1892) i. 333 (MED) Alle wolle þei ful ȝare Lauhwhe þe to bisemare.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 15881 (MED) Þe feluns logh [Trin. Cambr. lowȝe] him til hething on ilk side, allas!
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) l. 2028 He [sc. Cain] was vnkynde ynouȝe To scorne he his fadir louȝe.
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) l. 1995 (MED) The clerkys..louhe to scorne the emperour.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms xxi[i]. 7 All they yt se me, laugh me to scorne.
a1569 M. Coverdale Fruitful Lessons (1593) sig. Pv The wisest of all is laughed to scorne.
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 96 They fell to teighing, and now they laugh you to skorne.
1671 G. Thomson Μισοχυμὶας Ἔλεγχου 15 He esteems this brave Experimental Philosopher, worthy to be laughed to scorn by every understanding Physician.
1738 J. Wesley Coll. Psalms & Hymns (new ed.) ii. iv The Lord..Shall..laugh to Scorn their furious Pride.
1778 F. Burney Let. 6–8 July in Early Jrnls. & Lett. F. Burney (1984) 45 This was a horrible Home stroke;..however, I found it was a mere random shot, &..I laughed it to scorn.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 395 I laughed to scorn the elements—And chiefly those of Learning.
1866 W. D. Howells Venetian Life 306 This was too much, and we laughed him to scorn.
1900 Western Champion (Barcaldine) 28 Aug. 3/3 He had laughed me to scorn for drinking tea with milk.
1981 ‘Q. Crisp’ How to become Virgin v. 61 To me everyone is interesting who will talk about himself but, when I said this in Toronto, I was laughed to scorn by one of the city's drama critics.
2009 Africa News (Nexis) 18 May When we watch the amateur survivors on satellite television, we laugh them to scorn.
b. to laugh one's fill: to laugh as much as one is able; to laugh heartily and at length.
ΚΠ
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Ellesmere) (1870) l. 3722 Now hust and thou shalt laughen al thy fille.
1577 T. Kendall Flowers of Epigr. f. 27v Laugh if thou please: Yea laugh thy fill.
1610 P. Holland tr. W. Camden Brit. i. 464 Such matter as will make you laugh your fill, if you have a laughing spleene.
1730 tr. N. Heinsius Life & Surprizing Adventures of Mirandor 98 When we are in a place where we may laugh our fill without fear.
1876 L. Campbell tr. Sophocles Ajax 14 Now even for pleasure thou mayst laugh thy fill.
1893 Harper's Mag. Mar. 621/2 I never allowed myself to laugh my fill when father and Sir Jasper were by, for fear of their displeasure.
1938 Slavonic & East European Rev. 16 537 When Watery Kuba had laughed his fill he wiped the tears out of his eyes.
2007 Brattleboro (Vermont) Reformer (Nexis) 6 Sept. Laugh your fill, eat some dark chocolate and go home feeling refreshed.
c.
laugh and lie down n. (also laugh and lay down) now historical a card game in which the object is to make pairs from the cards in one's hand and those on the table, a player unable to do this having to lay down his or her remaining cards; frequently used punningly with reference to sexual intercourse.For a detailed account of the rules see Francis Willughby's Book of Games (2003) 138-40.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > entertainment > pastimes > game > card game > other card games > [noun] > others
laugh and lie down1522
mack1548
decoyc1555
pinionc1557
to beat the knave out of doors1570
imperial1577
prima vista1587
loadum1591
flush1598
prime1598
thirty-perforce1599
gresco1605
hole1621
my sow's pigged1621
slam1621
fox-mine-host1622
whipperginnie1622
crimpa1637
hundred1636
pinache1641
sequence1653
lady's hole1658
quebas1668
art of memory1674
costly colours1674
penneech1674
plain dealing1674
wit and reason1680
comet1685
lansquenet1687
incertain1689
macham1689
uptails1694
quinze1714
hoc1730
commerce1732
matrimonya1743
tredrille1764
Tom come tickle me1769
tresette1785
snitch'ems1798
tontine1798
blind hazard1816
all fives1838
short cards1845
blind hookey1852
sixty-six1857
skin the lamb1864
brisque1870
handicap1870
manille1874
forty-five1875
slobberhannes1877
fifteen1884
Black Maria1885
slapjack1887
seven-and-a-half1895
pit1904
Russian Bank1915
red dog1919
fan-tan1923
Pelmanism1923
Slippery Sam1923
go fish1933
Russian Banker1937
racing demon1938
pit-a-pat1947
scopa1965
1522 J. Skelton Why come ye nat to Courte 928 Now nothynge but pay, pay, With, laughe and lay downe, Borowgh, cyte, and towne.
1591 J. Florio Second Frutes 67 What game doo you plaie at cards? At primero, at trump, at laugh and lie downe.
1594 J. Lyly Mother Bombie sig. Hv At laugh and lie downe, if they play, What Asse against the sport can bray?
1634 Noble Souldier i. sig. B2v Sorrow becomes me best. A suit of laugh and lye downe would weare better.
a1672 F. Willughby Bk. of Games (2003) 138 From this laying downe of cards, & the rests laughing at him that lays them downe, comes the name Laugh & Ly Downe.
1713 Capt. Bland Northern Atalantis (ed. 2) 67 To any Game at Cards she'll not say nay, But Laugh and Lye down is her common play.
1764 T. Turner Diary 16 Nov. (1984) (modernized text) 309 We played some time at a game called ‘Laugh and lay down’.
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Laugh-and-lay-down, a childish game at cards.
1855 H. R. Helper Land of Gold 169 Some of the tavern-loungers seat themselves around the table, to take a friendly game of euchre, whist, seven-up, laugh-and-lay-down,..or matrimony.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses 194 He will never..play victoriously the game of laugh and lie down.
2004 J. E. Fender Our Lives, our Fortunes 32 Until I played agin Daniel O'Buck,..I alus thought Laugh and Lie Down wus truly a game o' chance.
d. to laugh up (also in) one's sleeve: to laugh to oneself; to nurse inward feelings of amusement or derision. [After post-classical Latin ridere in sinum (1555 in the passage translated in quot. 1560).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > laugh to oneself
to laugh up (also in) one's sleeve1560
smudge1808
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. lxiiij If I coueted nowe to auenge the iniuries that you haue done me, I myght laughe in my slyue [L. riderem in sinum].
1609 W. M. Man in Moone sig. Fv Neuer laugh in your sleeue, how you haue gulled or bulled your husband.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 228 Thou..hast fleerd and laught in thy sleeve at the sincere.
1753 T. Gray Long Story in Six Poems 19 Where, safe and laughing in his sleeve, He heard the distant din of war.
1775 R. B. Sheridan Rivals ii. i. 31 'Tis false, Sir! I know you are laughing in your sleeve.
1853 M. Arnold Empedocles on Etna i. ii The Gods laugh in their sleeve To watch man doubt and fear.
1888 Times 20 Sept. 7/2 Irishmen..laugh in their sleeve when the dull respectabilities of the Gladstonian party take the thing seriously.
1943 E. Blyton Summer Term at St Clare's vii. 46 She was annoyed to think that her class might be laughing up their sleeves at her.
1985 T. Waits Anywhere I lay my Head (song) in Rain Dogs (CD lyrics booklet) She's laughing in her sleeve at me I can feel it in my bones.
2003 P. Lovesey House Sitter (2004) xxii. 338 He's laughing up his sleeve, Hen. I'm sure he was stringing me along.
e.
(a) to laugh in a person's face: to show open contempt for a person, esp. with scornful mockery or laughter; to deride, ridicule, or scoff at a person blatantly.
ΚΠ
1596 Raigne of Edward III sig. A4 See how occasion laughes me in the face. View more context for this quotation]
1603 S. Harsnett Declar. Popish Impostures 24 If shee fleere, and laugh in a mans face.
1725 M. Davys Lady's Tale in Wks. II. 127 He came forward, and made up to my Mother to salute her, which he did with such an awkard Air, that had not a little good Manners stood close at my Elbow, I had laugh'd in his Face.
1782 Pennsylvania Gaz. 10 Apr. As the French fleet lay just at that time before Fort Royal Bay, the moment he came out, they would retire into the Bay and laugh in his face.
1847 W. M. Thackeray Vanity Fair (1848) ii. 13 Rebecca laughed in her face, with a horrid sarcastic demoniacal laughter, that almost sent the schoolmistress into fits.
1902 J. Conrad Heart of Darkness iii I had no particular desire to enlighten them, but I had some difficulty in restraining myself from laughing in their faces so full of stupid importance.
1943 A. Rand Fountainhead ii. iv. 256 She sat there, looking up at him, laughing deliberately in his face, laughing ungraciously and not gaily.
2003 R. Lacey Street Bible 85 Because you've given his enemies so much ammunition, because they're laughing in his face, he'll punish you more.
(b) to laugh in the face of: to show open contempt for (something, esp. a known hazard or encumbrance); to display blithe disregard for (something).
ΚΠ
1641 W. Bridge Babylons Downfall 28 Let your faith laugh in the face of difficulties.
1691 J. Harris Mistakes v. i. 68 Had but my shafts hit right to my desire, I wou'd have laugh'd even in the face of heaven.
1796 S. T. Coleridge Lett. (1895) 209 Laugh in the faces of gloom and ill-lookingness.
1853 Godey's Lady's Bk. Sept. 230 That fearless trust which invests the soul in its first ignorance of evil, and causes it (having no choice but the Will of its Original) to laugh in the face of death.
1869 J. E. Cooke Mohun ii. xxvi. 177 Heaven had given him animal spirits, and he laughed in the face of danger.
1903 Locomotive Engineers' Monthly Jrnl. May 325/1 We are not all capable of laughing in the face of trouble and adversity, but we can at least make the attempt.
1998 R. Ray Certain Age 223 Because upstairs, laughing in the face of EU regulations, we were now cultivating our very own strain of biological warfare.
f. to laugh till (also until) one cries: to laugh until tears run down one's face; (hyperbolically) to laugh heartily or uncontrollably. [Compare French rire aux larmes (1671).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > laugh convulsively or immoderately
chuckle1598
to split (also break, burst, etc.) one's sides1598
to die with, or of laughing1609
to hold one's sides1609
to laugh till (also until) one cries1611
split1688
to burst one's sides1712
shake1729
to shake one's sides1736
to laugh oneself sick (also silly)1773
roll1819
to laugh one's head off1871
to break up1895
to fall about1918
pee1946
1611 J. Davies Scourge of Folly 234 Where each man in, and out of's humor pries Vpon himselfe; and laughs vntill hee cries.
1664 Advice of Father; or, Counsel to Child xvi. 96 I..have seen some laugh till they have cryed; hence I conclude, that mirth in its extream is madness.
1757 ‘L. Lively’ Merry Fellow II. 156 Though the ladies may sometimes laugh till they cry, yet is their beauty always benefited by it.
1780 T. Francklin tr. Lucian Wks. I. 400 Afranius Silo, a centurion, the rival of Pericles, who spoke so fine a declamation upon him as, by heaven, made me laugh till I cried again.
1838 E. Eden Jrnl. 20 Oct. in Up Country (1866) I. xxiii. 252 R. was never seen to laugh till he cried before.
1885 C. G. Leland Brand-new Ballads 62 In the front seat sat the Gallagher, And laughed until he cried. Revenge is sweet!
1900 J. Conrad Lord Jim xiii. 139 He made us laugh till we cried, and..would tiptoe amongst us and say, ‘It's all very well for you beggars to laugh.’
1990 She Aug. 74/1 How many times have you laughed until you cried? That's the release mechanism coming into play.
2003 Tampa Bay (Florida) Mag. Jan.–Feb. 31/1 This comedic duo will make their audience laugh till they cry.
g.
(a) to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side of one's mouth and variants: to laugh bitterly or ruefully; to suffer a reverse of circumstances after feeling satisfaction or confidence about something. [Compare French rire à l'envers (1751).]
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > sorrow or grief > feel sorrow or grief [verb (intransitive)] > change from laughter to sorrow
to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side of one's mouth1714
1714 T. Lucas Mem. Most Famous Gamesters & Sharpers 65 But tho' he laugh'd, 'twas on the wrong side of his Mouth.
1751 Polite Politician I. 89 The Absurd Fool brings the Laugh upon himself, while the Jesting Fool turns it upon his Antagonist, and generally makes him laugh on the wrong Side of the Mouth.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. ii. v. 227 We were made to laugh on the other side of our mouths by an unforeseen occurrence.
1884 W. E. Norris Thirlby Hall III. ix. 158 We shall be laughing on the wrong side of our mouths before the day is over, unless I'm very much mistaken.
1904 M. M. Bodkin Patsey the Omadaun vi. 130 But, faix, Foxey laughed the other side iv his mouth the next mornin' whin he had the carpenter in to put a new bottom to his till.
1907 Cent. Mag. Nov. 76/2 Huh! maybe they 'll laugh on the other side of their jaws later.
1955 Jrnl. Aesthetics & Art Crit. 13 345 You challenge laughter's power by threatening the laugher that he'll laugh on the wrong side of his mouth.
2000 N.Y. Mag. 10 Jan. 48/3 Unless you enjoy laughing out of the wrong side of your mouth, avoid this unconscionable Shamlet.
(b) to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side: = Phrases 1g(a). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > be or become dejected [verb (intransitive)] > change from exultation to dejection
to laugh on the wrong side (of one's mouth, face, etc.)1771
to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side1779
to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side of one's face1807
1779 W. Cowper Love of World 24 You laugh—'tis well—the tale applied May make you laugh on t' other side.
1845 ‘J. Sharp’ Jonathan Sharp I. xxv. 137 I have half a mind to thrash a dozen of them, the blackguards; but never mind, they will yet laugh on the wrong side though.
1868 Student & Schoolmate Oct. 468 You 'll laugh out of the other side when you see me riding round with my seven thousand dollar carriage horses!
1889 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robbery under Arms xxxiii I'll make some of ye laugh on the wrong side.
1915 J. E. Goodman Treasure Island iii. ii. 75 Laugh, by thunder, laugh—before a quarter of an hour's out, you'll laugh on the other side.
(c) to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side of one's face and variants: to laugh bitterly or ruefully; to suffer a reverse of circumstances after feeling satisfaction or confidence about something.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > be or become dejected [verb (intransitive)] > change from exultation to dejection
to laugh on the wrong side (of one's mouth, face, etc.)1771
to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side1779
to laugh on (also out of) the other (also wrong) side of one's face1807
1807 W. H. Ireland Stultifera Navis xxviii. 116 In vain repentance comes; how chang'd his case, He laughs—but on the wrong side of his face.
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 246 An' as fer you, my lady, wait till I've got yer, I'll make yer laugh the uvver side o' yer face.
1911 Texas Mag. Sept. 46/2 You'll laugh out of the other side of your face before I'm through with you.
1951 ‘F. O'Connor’ Traveller's Samples 43 ‘Who are ye laughing at?’ I shouted, clenching my fists at them. ‘I'll make ye laugh at the other side of yeer faces if ye don't let me pass.’
1975 S. Johnson Urbane Guerilla ii. 70 Stanton will soon laugh on the other side of his face.
2003 C. Birch Turn again Home xxix. 315 You'll laugh on the other side of your face when I call the police and they take your fingerprints!
h. don't make me laugh: expressing disbelief or dismissal.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > derision, ridicule, or mockery > expressions used in derision or ridicule [phrase]
scilicet1539
don't make me laugh1733
I should smile1883
how do you like them (also those) apples?1895
in your face1975
1733 Lord Blunder's Confession i. 7 Dash. Though you have Assurance enough to abuse your Benefactor, I assure you, Mr. Trimwell, I shall resent your Usage to me in a Manner you won't like. Trim. Ha, ha, ha! pr'ythee, don't make me laugh.
1830 W. Taylor Hist. Surv. German Poetry III. v. 161 Gust. Wherein consists my crime? Second Off. The legate has denounced you as an outlaw. Gust. Don't make me laugh!
1942 J. G. Cozzens Just & Unjust I. 35 You think anybody's going to believe anything he says? Don't make me laugh!
1967 J. B. Priestley It's Old Country xiii. 142 ‘I'll never believe there was anything between him and Mum——’ ‘Don't make me laugh,’ Vic said, giving Tom a wink.
2001 K. Fearon & A. Verlaque Lurgan Champagne & Other Tales 89 We get our windows put in with bricks all the time. Call the police? Don't make me laugh.
i. In collocation with cry, as one of two equally appropriate responses to a situation, event, etc. Chiefly in not to know whether to laugh or cry.
ΚΠ
1766 F. Gentleman Royal Fables xiii. 71 A doubtful cloud o'er-hung each eye, He knew not which, to laugh, or cry.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xii. 150 It was a toss-up with Tom Pinch whether he should laugh or cry.
1918 H. H. Peerless Diary 8 June in Brief Jolly Change (2003) 234 She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said so. I advised her to cry.
1940 D. Thomas Coll. Lett. (1987) 463 I'm so relieved I could laugh or cry.
1985 J. Sullivan Only Fools & Horses (1999) I. 4th Ser. Episode 6. 244 Well you should have seen his face Uncle, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry!
2000 J. Caughie Television Drama vi. 178 The viewer does not know whether to laugh or cry.
j. Chiefly figurative. to laugh oneself sick (also silly): to laugh uncontrollably and at length.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > laugh convulsively or immoderately
chuckle1598
to split (also break, burst, etc.) one's sides1598
to die with, or of laughing1609
to hold one's sides1609
to laugh till (also until) one cries1611
split1688
to burst one's sides1712
shake1729
to shake one's sides1736
to laugh oneself sick (also silly)1773
roll1819
to laugh one's head off1871
to break up1895
to fall about1918
pee1946
1773 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1988) I. 303 Mrs. Rishton & I Laughed ourselves sick.
1858 St. James's Medley Feb. 303 I nearly laughed myself sick at him today.
1892 D. Strange Farmers' Tariff Man. 32 [Protectionists] laugh themselves silly as they ask how the tariff is added.
1921 H. C. Witwer Leather Pushers xii. 325 I'll wager she's laughing herself sick right now.
1977 R. Angell Five Seasons i. 21 We could all laugh ourselves silly at the sight of a large, outraged umpire suddenly calling in a suspected wetback for inspection.
2006 A. Thomas Three Dog Life (2007) 53 We laughed ourselves sick at the kitchen table.
k. to make a cat laugh: see cat n.1 13j.
l. figurative. to laugh one's head off: to laugh heartily or uncontrollably.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pleasure > laughter > types of laughter > laugh in specific manner [verb (intransitive)] > laugh convulsively or immoderately
chuckle1598
to split (also break, burst, etc.) one's sides1598
to die with, or of laughing1609
to hold one's sides1609
to laugh till (also until) one cries1611
split1688
to burst one's sides1712
shake1729
to shake one's sides1736
to laugh oneself sick (also silly)1773
roll1819
to laugh one's head off1871
to break up1895
to fall about1918
pee1946
1871 ‘M. Twain’ Burlesque Autobiogr. 6 He could imitate anybody's hand so closely that it was enough to make a person laugh his head off to see it.
1907 Musical Times 48 584/2 The king nearly laughed his head off.
1974 R. Jeffries Mistakenly in Mallorca v. 44 Laugh your head off, thought Mayans sourly.
1990 Sun 20 Oct. 13/1 When I said I'd started a strict diet the crew cracked up and just couldn't stop laughing their heads off at me.
2001 B. Hatch Internat. Gooseberry 134 When I jumped, she laughed her head off.
m. laugh! I thought I'd die and variants: emphasizing the hilarity of some past event.
ΚΠ
1892 A. Chevalier Wot Cher 4 (song) Laugh! I thought I should 'ave died, Knock'd 'em in the Old Kent Road!
1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 246 'E does a bunk dahn the street, lookin' fer all the world like a hunder-done pancake. Laugh—I thought I should ha' died.
1958 F. Hurst Anat. of Me i. 15 I could listen to Mrs. Hurst talk all day! Laugh! I thought I'd die! The way she says things.
2004 J. B. Tarver Blaze of Glory ix. 103 Laugh? I thought I'd die t'other night when he tried to say Mississippi.
n. to laugh out of court: see out of court adv. 2.
o. Originally U.S. to laugh it up.
(a) To laugh heartily; to have a good time, enjoy oneself.
ΚΠ
1906 Munsey's Mag. Sept. 783/1 I thought if you'd come over and—and laugh it up a little bit.
1958 J. Weidman Enemy Camp ii. 220 You start laughing it up over those lunch boxes like all the rest of us around that ping-pong table so Shumacher won't get suspicious and start asking questions.
1986 New Yorker 2 June 104/2 It is hard to laugh it up when the question most frequently asked about the man you work for is whether he should resign his office.
2010 Times & Transcipt (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 9 Feb. d1 We get another chance to forget about the cold and dark of February and laugh it up with the Hubcap Comedy Festival.
(b) Used in imperative (with ironic or sarcastic force) to suggest an impending reversal of fortune: ‘laugh while you can.’
ΚΠ
1971 I. Haiblum Tsaddik of Seven Wonders 46 Laugh it up, pal, but wait till the king hears about this.
1980 R. Abbot Play on! ii. 58 That's it—laugh it up—we'll see just how funny you think this is tomorrow night!
1996 A. Fein et al. Simpsons Comics Strike Back! 51/1 Laugh it up, cue-ball! Learning the contents of this manual is all that stands between our career in the sky and life on earth with you.
2010 Northern Territory News (Darwin) (Nexis) 1 Mar. 23 Laugh it up jokers—you're all walking to the next gig.
p. colloquial. to be laughing: to be in a fortunate or successful position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > prosper or flourish [verb (intransitive)] > be in easy circumstances
(to eat, live on) the fat of the land1530
to be laughing1930
to have never had it so good1944
1930 J. Brophy & E. Partridge Songs & Slang Brit. Soldier: 1914–1918 136 Laughing, comfortable, safe, fortunate, especially in contrast with others or with normal circumstances. E.g. ‘He's got a job at Brigade Head Quarters, so he's laughing’; ‘Once I get to the C.C.S. I'm laughing’.
1968 Listener 19 Dec. 812/3 Oh, Ron, he's got a job—£30 a week he can get now, you know. Skilled motor mechanic, and not put-on like it used to be... Old Ron's laughing.
1975 M. Stanier Singing Time 255 So long as you're a jump ahead you're laughing.
2000 I. Pattison Stranger here Myself (2001) iii. 117 I spotted a card in the window of a Lyons Tearoom. Dishwashers Wanted. No Exp. Nec.‘That's it,’ I said to Cotter, ‘we're laughing.’
q. to laugh like little Audrey: see little adj., pron., n., and adv. Phrases 1d.
r. to laugh like a drain: see drain n. 1f.
s. to laugh all the way to the bank: see bank n.3 Phrases 2.
P2. Proverbs and proverbial phrases.
a. they laugh that win and variants. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1536 R. Morison Remedy for Sedition sig. f.vi He that is ouercomme shall wepe, ye say. Trowe you they shall laugh that wynne?
1599 Hist. Syr Clyomon & Clamydes sig. F But I may zay to you my nabor, Hogs maid had a clap, wel let them laugh that win.
1622 T. May Heire iii. i. sig. E2v I know thou..laughest at my falling house, but let them laugh That winne the prize, things nere are knowne till ended.
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 204 They only can best laugh that win.
1767 D. Garrick Epilogue in G. Colman Eng. Merchant 72 Let them laugh that win!
1777 Bonner & Middleton's Bristol Jrnl. 5 July 3/1 The old Proverb says, let them laugh that wins—They glory over us, by saying that our Fund is almost exhausted—that is our look out not theirs.
1807 J. Beresford Miseries Human Life II. xx. 271 We laugh that win.
1874 A. Trollope Phineas Redux I. xxxvii. 309 ‘You are laughing at me, I know.’ ‘Let them laugh that win.’
1909 Times 25 Feb. 9/6 They laugh that win, and we have won.
b. to laugh and grow (also be) fat.
ΚΠ
1596 J. Harington New Disc. Aiax sig. Fv I dare vndertake, this answer will satisfie my Lord Mayor of London, and many of the worshipful of the Citie, that make sweete gaines of stinking wares, and will laugh and be fat.
1673 E. Hickeringill Gregory 169 So many people, like Mithridates, or the Maid in Pliny, live upon that, laugh and grow fat with that, that would ruine others.
1777 S. J. Pratt Liberal Opinions VI. cxxxv. 180 Laugh and grow fat is my rule.
1861 I. M. Beeton Bk. Housh. Managem. xxi. 464 ‘Laugh and grow fat’ is a good maxim.
1873 Phrenol. Jrnl. Sept. 155/1 We have an old adage which runs, ‘laugh and be fat,’ which, I think, is largely corroborated by human experience.
1955 Jrnl. Aesthetics & Art Crit. 13 344 Folk-thought speaks of the ‘saving sense of humor’, it advises: ‘Laugh and grow fat.’
2009 Corkman (Nexis) 30 Apr. Her motto in life was ‘laugh and grow fat’ and she was a lady who was never in bad humour or angry.
c. he laughs best (also longest) who laughs last and variants: present setbacks, humiliations, etc., are unimportant, so long as one ultimately prevails. Cf. to have the last laugh at laugh n. Phrases 2c. [Compare French rira bien qui rira le dernier (1667 or earlier).]
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > mastery or superiority > [phrase] > be ultimately the winner
he laughs best (also longest) who laughs lastc1608
c1608 Times Complaint in Christmas Prince (1922) 109 Hee laugheth best that laugheth to the end.
1715 J. Vanbrugh tr. F. C. Dancourt Country House ii. 23 What, does she play her Jests upon me too!—but mum, he laughs best that laughs last.
1823 W. Scott Peveril IV. iii. 49 Your Grace knows the French proverb, ‘He laughs best who laughs last.’
1871 E. Yates Nobody's Fortune (1872) II. vii. 130 Those who laugh last laugh longest.
1920 O. Onions Case in Camera 147 Very well, young-fellowme-lad; you watch it! They laugh best that laugh last. It isn't over yet!
1953 B. Menczer Catholic Polit. Thought, 1789–1848 (1962) 33 He laughs longest who laughs last, and..the Church laughed last.
1994 Spy (N.Y.) Aug. 5 He laughs best that laughs last, so we're right now enjoying a good solid thigh-slapper.
d. to laugh at oneself first: expressing the idea of using self-ridicule to fend off ridicule by others.
ΚΠ
1678 R. L'Estrange tr. Of Anger viii. 83 in Seneca's Morals Abstracted (1679) No Man was ever ridiculous to others, that laught at himself first.
1732 T. Fuller Gnomologia 76 He is not laughed at, that laughs at himself first.
1786 H. L. Piozzi Anecd. Johnson 247 The old maxim, of beginning to laugh at yourself first where you have any thing ridiculous about you.
1837 M. M. Busk Plays & Poems i. ii. 240 Laugh at yourself first, my dear fellow, and the world's laugh will be rather with, than at you.
1874 Every Sat. 127/1 Always laugh at yourself first, is a good rule.
1909 Columbus Med. Jrnl. 33 599/1 Laugh at yourself first, then laugh at others like you.
2008 Daily Star (Nexis) 30 Apr. 17 Laugh at yourself first and they can't win.
e. laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone and variants. Also shortened to laugh, and the world laughs with you.
ΚΠ
1883 E. Wheeler in Sun (N.Y.) 25 Feb. 3/6 Laugh and the world laughs with you, Weep, and you weep alone.
1899 Railroad Trainman Dec. 1107 ‘Laugh, and the world laughs with you.’ It's as true as anything that has ever been written.
1907 ‘O. Henry’ Trimmed Lamp & Other Stories 211 Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and they give you the laugh.
1985 C. R. Swindoll Living on Ragged Edge 24 ‘Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry alone.’ I've found quite the opposite is true.
1998 Cosmopolitan (U.K. ed.) Sept. 121/3 Snoring is sexual suicide—laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.
2010 Hanover (Ont.) Post (Nexis) 5 Mar. a7 Laugh and the world laughs with you. Or in my case, at you.

Phrasal verbs

With adverbs in specialized senses. to laugh away
1. transitive. To dismiss or banish with laughter; to laugh off.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration > with laughter
laugha1387
to laugh out1566
to laugh away1590
to laugh over1627
to laugh off1676
1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 28 At this iest, Signor Bartolo fell into such a laughing and all his guests with him, that hee laught away choller.
1649 R. Baxter Saints Everlasting Rest (new ed.) iii. iii. §v. 315 They could laugh away sorrow, and sing away cares, and drive away these Melancholy thoughts.
1692 W. Sherlock Serm. preached before Queen 18 Some Men may laugh away the Thoughts of Hell.
1780 W. Cowper Table Talk 239 And laughs the sense of misery far away.
1797 A. Radcliffe Italian II. ii. 79 He..tried to laugh away her apprehensions.
1821 Ld. Byron Marino Faliero (2nd issue) iv. i. 97 I strove To laugh the thought away.
1853 C. Kingsley Hypatia II. xiv. 326 He tried to laugh away his own fears. And yet they ripened..into certainty.
1920 E. Wharton Age of Innocence xxx. 296 If May had spoken out her grievances..he might have laughed them away.
1970 S. Kudo tr. Z. Shibayama Flower does not Talk 75 You may think that it is just a humorous cartoon with no special significance, and laugh it away.
2005 Time Out N.Y. 17 Nov. 68/4 Laugh away your stress.
2. transitive. To while away (time) with laughter.
ΚΠ
1602 T. Lodge in tr. Josephus Wks. To Rdr. sig. ¶iijv Some..beget officious idlenes, laughing away houres, and nourish repent.
1653 N. Hookes Miscellanea Poetica in Amanda 140 Poor wits to help you laugh away the time.
1705 W. Coward Abramideis i. 32 The Sons of Men..Slumber in Peace, and laugh their Days away.
1781 W. Cowper Retirem. 452 He..talks and laughs away his vacant hours.
1822 A. M. Porter Roche-Blanche II. v. 177 They would innocently laugh away the time, which they had at first destined for serious discourse.
1875 Scribner's Monthly Aug. 499/1 They laughed away the half hours waiting for the pageant.
1908 A. Austin Sacred & Profane Love 55 Warrior grim and maiden gay Fought and laughed the hours away.
2003 P. van Wyk Burnham 160 Afterwards, they talked and laughed away the day.
†3. transitive. To let go with a laugh. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. vi. 106 Pompey doth this day laugh away his Fortune. View more context for this quotation
 to laugh down
transitive. To subdue or silence with laughter or ridicule.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > refrain from uttering [verb (transitive)] > silence or prevent from speaking
to stop a person's mouthc1175
stilla1225
to keep ina1420
stifle1496
to knit up1530
to muzzle (up) the mouth1531
choke1533
muzzle?1542
to tie a person's tongue1544
tongue-tiea1555
silence1592
untongue1598
to reduce (a person or thing) to silence1605
to bite in1608
gaga1616
to swear downa1616
to laugh down1616
stifle1621
to cry down1623
unworda1627
clamour1646
splint1648
to take down1656
snap1677
stick1708
shut1809
to shut up1814
to cough down1823
to scrape down1855
to howl down1872
extinguish1878
hold1901
shout1924
to pipe down1926
1616 B. Jonson Entertainm. at Highgate 884 in Wks. I Lords, for your selues, your owne cups crowne, The ladies, ifaith, else will laugh you downe.
1749 H. Jones Poems Several Occasions 154 Hence wicked Wits would laugh Religion down.
1830 S. T. Coleridge Let. (1971) VI. 846 It is very easy to laugh or sneer down a literary Man who has..advanced and enforced any connexus of..fundamental Principles.
1856 Ld. Tennyson Maud (rev. ed.) xix. vi, in Maud & Other Poems (new ed.) 67 Whenever she touch'd on me This brother had laugh'd her down.
1900 Philistine 1900 124 He was stung by the continued efforts of the press to laugh him down.
1936 E. Chodorov Kind Lady ii. 58 I laughed her down of course—told her she was a silly woman, I insulted her frightfully.
1991 Oxf. Jrnl. Legal Stud. 11 380 Students who ask questions indicating a conservative approach to the law are laughed down by wise-cracking professors.
 to laugh off
transitive. To dismiss or banish with laughter. In later use also ironic (and frequently in imperative) in to laugh that off.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration > with laughter
laugha1387
to laugh out1566
to laugh away1590
to laugh over1627
to laugh off1676
1676 T. Otway Don Carlos iii. 22 Nay think not by your smiles, and careless port, To laugh it off.
1715 J. Vanbrugh tr. F. C. Dancourt Country House i. i They all got drunk and lay in the Barn, and next Morning laugh'd it off for a Frolick.
1795 E. Fenwick Secresy II. xvi. 173 She laughed me off without a tittle of information.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas IV. xii. i. 376 Instead of laughing it off, I was fool enough to be angry.
1880 E. Lynn Linton Rebel of Family I. ii. 37 Clarissa..laughed off the proposal as a joke.
1936 ‘N. Blake’ Thou Shell of Death xii. 224 Why should he want them [sc. footprints] preserved if it wasn't he who originally made them?.. Laugh that one off!
1974 Times 15 Jan. 14/6 I claim to have a complete answer to the charge, so laugh that off, Sir Peter.
2002 Business 2.0 Oct. 98/1 Semel seemed taken aback for an instant, then laughed it off.
† to laugh out
Obsolete.
transitive. To dismiss or banish with laughter; to laugh off.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration > with laughter
laugha1387
to laugh out1566
to laugh away1590
to laugh over1627
to laugh off1676
1566 W. Adlington tr. Apuleius .XI. Bks. Golden Asse ix. f. 90v They woulde not be confounded nor abashed, but iestyng & laughinge out the matter, gan say [etc.].
1591 E. Spenser Prosopopoia in Complaints 704 Yet would he laugh it out..And tell them that they greatly him mistooke.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) iv. i. 112 Now he denyes it faintly, and laughes it out . View more context for this quotation
1806 T. S. Surr Winter in London III. viii. 210 Though burning with envy..her grace attempted to laugh out the scene.
 to laugh over
1. transitive. To recall or repeat with laughter or mirth.
ΚΠ
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) v. v. 234 Let vs..Laugh this sport ore by a Countrie fire. View more context for this quotation
1804 R. C. Dallas Aubrey IV. xlv. 219 I shall have great pleasure in laughing the matter over with him at your table.
1871 Lippincott's Monthly Mag. Aug. 161/2 I thought she would have rushed back to laugh the scene over with me.
1939 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Ingleside xxviii. 191 Anne always had contrived to keep a straight face when a straight face was indicated, no matter how crazily she might laugh it over with Gilbert afterwards.
2004 C. Kettlewell Electric Dreams 11 He..was looking forward to shorts and a T-shirt and maybe a cold beer at home, and laughing it over with his new housemate.
2. transitive. To dismiss or banish with laughter; to laugh off. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > inattention > ignoring, disregard > ignore, disregard [verb (transitive)] > dismiss from consideration > with laughter
laugha1387
to laugh out1566
to laugh away1590
to laugh over1627
to laugh off1676
1627 P. Forbes Eubulus iii. 56 How-so-ever you would seeme, for-sooth, to make a verie light account of it; and would, according to your manner, laugh-over those Argumentes, which most pintch you.
1639 in D. Laing Var. Pieces Fugitive Sc. Poetry (1825) 2nd. Ser. xvii. 102 Yet..all those torturing tossings Which I have tryde, I laught them ou'r as sportings.
1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xi. 76 Come, come, my dear..it don't signify fretting now,—we shall laugh it over as a frolick.
1895 P. Jones Pobratim viii. 150 Mara came out, and found her ghastly pale; she tried to laugh the matter over.
1910 Harper's Mag. Jan. 198/2 Some made it out an evil sign for their voyage. But Bikki laughed it over.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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