laugh

Universal Words verb, noun verb 1 ~ (at / about) to make the sounds and movements of your face that show you are happy or think sth is funny: [V] to laugh loudly / aloud / out loud * You never laugh at my jokes! * The show was hilarious-I couldn't stop laughing. * She always makes me laugh. * He burst out laughing (= suddenly started laughing). * She laughed to cover her nervousness. * I told him I was worried but he laughed scornfully. * [Vspeech] 'You're crazy!' she laughed. 2 [V] (be laughing) (spoken, informal) used to say that you are in a very good position, especially because you have done sth successfully: If we win the next game we'll be laughing. IDIOMS Don't make me laugh (spoken) used to show that you think what sb has just said is impossible or stupid: 'Will your dad lend you the money?' 'Don't make me laugh!' laugh all the way to the bank (informal) to make a lot of money easily and feel very pleased about it laugh in sb's face to show in a very obvious way that you have no respect for sb laugh like a drain (BrE) to laugh very loudly laugh on the other side of your face (BrE, informal) to be forced to change from feeling pleased or satisfied to feeling disappointed or annoyed: He'll be laughing on the other side of his face when he reads my letter. laugh sb/sth out of court (BrE, informal) to completely reject an idea, a story, etc. that you think is not worth taking seriously at all: All his attempts at explanation were simply laughed out of court. laugh till / until you cry to laugh so long and hard that there are tears in your eyes laugh up your sleeve (at sb/sth) (informal) to be secretly amused about sth laugh your head off to laugh very loudly and for a long time not know whether to laugh or cry (informal) to be unable to decide how to react to a bad or unfortunate situation you have / you've got to laugh (spoken) used to say that you think there is a funny side to a situation: Well, I'm sorry you've lost your shoes, but you've got to laugh, haven't you? moreatPISSv. PHRASALVERBS laugh at sb/sth to make sb/sth seem stupid or not serious by making jokes about them/it: Everybody laughs at my accent. * She is not afraid to laugh at herself (= not be too serious about herself). laugh sth<->off (informal) to try to make people think that sth is not serious or important, especially by making a joke about it: He laughed off suggestions that he was going to resign. noun [C] 1 the sound you make when you are amused or happy: to give a laugh * a short / harsh / bitter / nervous / hearty laugh * His first joke got the biggest laugh of the night. 2 (a laugh) [sing.] (informal) an enjoyable and amusing occasion or thing that happens: Come to the karaoke night-it should be a good laugh. * And he didn't realize it was you? What a laugh! 3 (a laugh) [sing.] a person who is amusing and fun to be with: Paula's a good laugh, isn't she? IDIOMS do sth for a laugh / for laughs to do sth for fun or as a joke: I just did it for a laugh, but it got out of hand. have a (good) laugh (about sth) to find sth amusing: I was angry at the time but we had a good laugh about it afterwards. * My family and friends all had a good laugh at my expense. moreatBARRELn., LASTdet. ______________________________ VOCABULARYBUILDING different ways of laughing cackle to laugh in a loud, unpleasant way, especially in a high voice chuckle to laugh quietly, especially because you are thinking about something funny giggle to laugh in a silly way because you are amused, embarrassed or nervous guffaw to laugh noisily roar to laugh very loudly snigger/snicker to laugh in a quiet unpleasant way, especially at something rude or at someone's problems or mistakes titter to laugh quietly, especially in a nervous or embarrassed way You can also be convulsed with laughter or dissolve into laughter when you find something very funny. In BrE people also shriek with laughter or howl with laughter. ______________________________