Sometimes we laugh so hard that words can’t quite explain it. That’s where idioms come in. Idioms are short phrases that don’t mean exactly what they say. Instead, they help us show feelings or ideas in a fun and creative way. When someone laughs a lot, we might say they’re “cracking up” or “in stitches.” These expressions help describe how strong or silly the laughter is.
In this article, we’ll look at idioms people use when talking about laughing. You’ll learn what each one means and how to use it in everyday situations. Whether it’s a joke in class or a funny moment with friends, these phrases can help you describe laughter in better ways. Let’s get started.
Idioms for Laughing
1. Burst out laughing
Meaning: Suddenly start laughing
Sample Sentences: He burst out laughing when he saw the funny dance. / She burst out laughing at the joke.
Other Way to Say: Started laughing loud / Couldn’t stop giggling
2. Laugh your head off
Meaning: Laugh a lot
Sample Sentences: I laughed my head off at the cartoon. / They laughed their heads off at the silly story.
Other Way to Say: Laughed really hard / Giggled so much
3. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing so much it hurts
Sample Sentences: That movie had me in stitches. / We were in stitches after the prank.
Other Way to Say: Laughing too hard / Hurting from laughter
4. Crack up
Meaning: Start laughing suddenly
Sample Sentences: I cracked up when I saw my dog wearing sunglasses. / They cracked up at the silly picture.
Other Way to Say: Broke into laughter / Couldn’t hold it in
5. Die laughing
Meaning: Laugh a lot (in a silly or fun way)
Sample Sentences: We died laughing at the school play. / He said he died laughing at that joke.
Other Way to Say: Laughed like crazy / Couldn’t stop laughing
6. Giggle fit
Meaning: Laughing a lot in a silly way
Sample Sentences: She had a giggle fit in class. / We got into a giggle fit during lunch.
Other Way to Say: Couldn’t stop giggling / Laughed a lot
7. Bust a gut
Meaning: Laugh really hard
Sample Sentences: I almost busted a gut watching the video. / He busted a gut at that joke.
Other Way to Say: Laughed super hard / Had a big laugh
8. Laugh like a hyena
Meaning: Laugh very loudly
Sample Sentences: He laughed like a hyena at the puppet show. / She laughed like a hyena in the car.
Other Way to Say: Loud laugh / Wild laughter
9. Roll on the floor laughing
Meaning: Laugh a lot, as if rolling around
Sample Sentences: I was rolling on the floor laughing during the skit. / That story made us roll on the floor.
Other Way to Say: Laughing super hard / Couldn’t sit still
10. Laugh till you cry
Meaning: Laugh so hard that tears come out
Sample Sentences: We laughed till we cried at the teacher’s joke. / That show made me laugh until I cried.
Other Way to Say: Cried from laughter / Big belly laugh
11. Chuckle to yourself
Meaning: Laugh quietly to yourself
Sample Sentences: He chuckled to himself while reading the comic. / She chuckled to herself when she remembered the joke.
Other Way to Say: Quiet laugh / Small giggle
12. Snort with laughter
Meaning: Laugh in a funny way through the nose
Sample Sentences: I snorted with laughter during the funny movie. / He snorted with laughter at the prank.
Other Way to Say: Funny laugh / Nose giggle
13. Split your sides
Meaning: Laugh so much it feels like your sides hurt
Sample Sentences: I split my sides watching that silly show. / We split our sides at the funny dance.
Other Way to Say: Laughed a lot / Laughed too hard
14. Cracking up
Meaning: Start laughing, usually at something silly
Sample Sentences: I was cracking up at his dance moves. / The whole class was cracking up.
Other Way to Say: Laughing a lot / Giggling hard
15. Cackle
Meaning: Loud and sharp laugh
Sample Sentences: She cackled at the joke her friend told. / His cackle filled the room.
Other Way to Say: Loud giggle / Sharp laugh
16. Laughing fit
Meaning: A time when you can’t stop laughing
Sample Sentences: I got a laughing fit during math class. / We had a laughing fit at lunch.
Other Way to Say: Non-stop laugh / Laugh attack
17. Belly laugh
Meaning: A big, deep laugh
Sample Sentences: His story gave me a belly laugh. / We had belly laughs all day.
Other Way to Say: Deep laugh / Big laugh
18. Guffaw
Meaning: A loud, sudden laugh
Sample Sentences: He let out a loud guffaw after the joke. / I guffawed at the silly hat.
Other Way to Say: Big loud laugh / Sudden laugh
19. Roar with laughter
Meaning: Laugh very loudly
Sample Sentences: The whole room roared with laughter. / We roared with laughter at the video.
Other Way to Say: Loud group laugh / Laughing out loud
20. Giggle like a child
Meaning: Laugh in a light, happy way
Sample Sentences: She giggled like a child at the balloons. / He giggled like a child after the magic trick.
Other Way to Say: Silly giggle / Happy laugh
21. Burst into giggles
Meaning: Start giggling suddenly
Sample Sentences: We burst into giggles during the show. / She burst into giggles when the puppy licked her face.
Other Way to Say: Start giggling / Begin to laugh
22. Let out a laugh
Meaning: Start laughing out loud
Sample Sentences: He let out a laugh when he slipped on the mat. / I let out a laugh when I saw the funny face.
Other Way to Say: Gave a laugh / Started laughing
23. Laughing stock
Meaning: Someone everyone laughs at (not in a nice way)
Sample Sentences: He became the laughing stock after the fall. / I felt like the laughing stock when I wore mismatched socks.
Other Way to Say: Everyone was laughing at me / Silly target
24. Laugh like crazy
Meaning: Laugh a lot and very hard
Sample Sentences: We laughed like crazy on the bus ride. / They laughed like crazy during the game.
Other Way to Say: Laughed wildly / Laughed non-stop
25. Tee-hee
Meaning: A small, light laugh
Sample Sentences: She said “tee-hee” when she saw the funny drawing. / I heard a little “tee-hee” behind me.
Other Way to Say: Tiny giggle / Small laugh
26. Laugh out loud
Meaning: Make a loud laugh
Sample Sentences: I laughed out loud when I saw the meme. / He laughed out loud at the joke.
Other Way to Say: Loud laugh / Burst out laughing
27. Tickle your funny bone
Meaning: Something that makes you laugh
Sample Sentences: That cartoon tickled my funny bone. / Her story tickled our funny bones.
Other Way to Say: Was really funny / Made me laugh
28. Laugh yourself silly
Meaning: Laugh so much you feel silly
Sample Sentences: I laughed myself silly at the puppet show. / We laughed ourselves silly playing dress-up.
Other Way to Say: Laughed a lot / Got silly from laughing
29. Be in fits
Meaning: Laughing a lot and not able to stop
Sample Sentences: We were in fits during the joke contest. / I was in fits from the video.
Other Way to Say: Couldn’t stop laughing / Laughing hard
30. Snicker
Meaning: A quiet, sneaky laugh
Sample Sentences: He snickered at the prank. / We snickered when the balloon popped.
Other Way to Say: Sneaky giggle / Quiet laugh
31. Have a laugh
Meaning: Enjoy something funny
Sample Sentences: Let’s have a laugh at that old photo. / We had a laugh watching funny videos.
Other Way to Say: Enjoy a joke / Share a giggle
32. Laugh behind your back
Meaning: Others laugh at you secretly
Sample Sentences: They laughed behind my back about my socks. / I don’t like it when people laugh behind my back.
Other Way to Say: Secret laugh / Hidden joke
33. Giggle-snort
Meaning: A silly giggle that includes a snort
Sample Sentences: She made a giggle-snort during lunch. / His giggle-snort made us laugh even more.
Other Way to Say: Funny snort-laugh / Silly giggle
34. Burst with laughter
Meaning: Laugh suddenly and loudly
Sample Sentences: We burst with laughter at the magic show. / I burst with laughter when my friend slipped on the ice (but was okay).
Other Way to Say: Sudden loud laugh / Exploded with giggles
35. Laugh until your belly aches
Meaning: Laugh so hard it feels like your stomach hurts
Sample Sentences: We laughed until our bellies ached. / I laughed until my belly ached at the silly song.
Other Way to Say: Laughed a lot / Hurting from laughter
36. Laugh your socks off
Meaning: Laugh really hard
Sample Sentences: I laughed my socks off at the school talent show. / That video made me laugh my socks off.
Other Way to Say: Laughed super hard / Couldn’t stop laughing
37. Giggle like a goose
Meaning: Laugh in a silly or noisy way
Sample Sentences: She giggled like a goose during the joke. / He giggled like a goose when he saw the dog in a hat.
Other Way to Say: Silly laugh / Loud giggle
38. Laugh like a drain
Meaning: Laugh loudly and in a rough way
Sample Sentences: He laughed like a drain at the bloopers. / She laughed like a drain during lunch.
Other Way to Say: Noisy laugh / Big chuckle
39. Laugh till your sides hurt
Meaning: Laugh so hard that your body feels sore
Sample Sentences: I laughed till my sides hurt at the play. / We laughed till our sides hurt at the funny dance.
Other Way to Say: Laughed a lot / Hurt from laughing
40. Laugh all the way
Meaning: Keep laughing without stopping
Sample Sentences: We laughed all the way home from the party. / I laughed all the way through the movie.
Other Way to Say: Non-stop laugh / Kept giggling
41. Giggle nonstop
Meaning: Laugh without stopping
Sample Sentences: The twins giggled nonstop during the magic show. / I giggled nonstop after slipping on the snow.
Other Way to Say: Couldn’t stop giggling / Kept laughing
42. Burst into laughter
Meaning: Start laughing quickly and loudly
Sample Sentences: She burst into laughter when she saw the clown. / They burst into laughter at the joke.
Other Way to Say: Sudden laugh / Loud giggle
43. Be tickled pink
Meaning: Be very amused or pleased
Sample Sentences: I was tickled pink by the funny birthday card. / Grandma was tickled pink when she saw the surprise cake.
Other Way to Say: Very happy / Pleased and smiling
44. Snigger
Meaning: A quiet, mean laugh
Sample Sentences: He sniggered when someone tripped. / They sniggered at the teacher’s old shoes.
Other Way to Say: Sneaky laugh / Quiet mean giggle
45. Laugh like there’s no tomorrow
Meaning: Laugh a lot without worry
Sample Sentences: We laughed like there’s no tomorrow at the carnival. / She laughed like there’s no tomorrow during the joke contest.
Other Way to Say: Laughed freely / Laughed super hard
46. Have a giggle
Meaning: Share a laugh
Sample Sentences: Let’s have a giggle at those silly pictures. / We had a giggle after the show.
Other Way to Say: Laugh together / Quick chuckle
47. Can’t help but laugh
Meaning: Something is so funny, you just have to laugh
Sample Sentences: I couldn’t help but laugh at his funny dance. / We couldn’t help but laugh at the cartoon.
Other Way to Say: Had to laugh / Laughed without thinking
48. Lighten the mood
Meaning: Make things feel more fun or happy
Sample Sentences: His joke helped lighten the mood. / The funny video lightened the mood in class.
Other Way to Say: Made it fun / Brightened the moment
49. Laugh like a loon
Meaning: Laugh in a loud, silly, or wild way
Sample Sentences: He laughed like a loon on the roller coaster. / She laughed like a loon when she saw the pet chicken.
Other Way to Say: Wild laugh / Crazy giggle
50. Snort-laugh
Meaning: Laugh and snort at the same time
Sample Sentences: I made a snort-laugh at the comic book. / She had a snort-laugh during lunch.
Other Way to Say: Funny laugh / Nose-giggle
51. Laugh a mile a minute
Meaning: Laugh quickly and a lot
Sample Sentences: We laughed a mile a minute watching the skit. / He laughed a mile a minute at the pet show.
Other Way to Say: Constant laugh / Fast giggles
52. Laughing like popcorn popping
Meaning: Small bursts of laughter, like popping sounds
Sample Sentences: The classroom was laughing like popcorn popping. / Every joke made us laugh like popcorn.
Other Way to Say: Popping laughs / Burst of giggles
53. Can’t keep a straight face
Meaning: Can’t stop laughing or smiling
Sample Sentences: I couldn’t keep a straight face during the game. / She couldn’t keep a straight face at the puppet show.
Other Way to Say: Smiling too much / Kept laughing
54. Lose it (from laughing)
Meaning: Start laughing out of control
Sample Sentences: I lost it when he made that funny face. / We lost it after the teacher’s silly story.
Other Way to Say: Lost control laughing / Started giggling hard
55. Burst out in peals of laughter
Meaning: Laugh in waves or bursts
Sample Sentences: They burst out in peals of laughter at the clown. / Peals of laughter came from the back of the class.
Other Way to Say: Waves of laughing / Lots of giggles
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms for Laughing
1. What does “crack up” mean?
A. Break something
B. Laugh really hard
C. Get serious
2. If someone is “in stitches,” what are they most likely doing?
A. Sewing clothes
B. Laughing a lot
C. Getting hurt
3. What does it mean if you “burst out laughing”?
A. Yell at someone
B. Laugh suddenly and loudly
C. Jump in surprise
4. You “snort with laughter” when you…
A. Try to sneeze quietly
B. Laugh and make a snorting sound
C. Laugh with your mouth closed
5. If someone is “rolling on the floor laughing,” what happened?
A. They fell and got hurt
B. They are acting silly on purpose
C. They are laughing so hard, they can’t stay still
6. What does “giggle fit” mean?
A. A fight between two gigglers
B. Laughing in a silly way that’s hard to stop
C. Trying not to laugh at all
7. What does it mean to “laugh one’s head off”?
A. Someone lost their head
B. Laughing loudly and a lot
C. A quiet and gentle laugh
8. “Chuckle to oneself” means someone is…
A. Laughing quietly alone
B. Yelling across the room
C. Making fun of others loudly
9. What is someone doing if they “laugh like a hyena”?
A. Crying loudly
B. Laughing wildly and loudly
C. Sneaking around quietly
10. If a room is “full of giggles,” what is happening?
A. Everyone is very serious
B. People are giggling a lot
C. People are whispering secrets
11. What does “tickle your funny bone” mean?
A. Something made you laugh
B. You feel pain in your arm
C. Someone poked you
12. If someone says “I laughed till my belly hurt,” what do they mean?
A. They laughed a little bit
B. They laughed so much it made their stomach sore
C. They ate too much and felt sick
Answer Key
- B. Laugh really hard
- B. Laughing a lot
- B. Laugh suddenly and loudly
- B. Laugh and make a snorting sound
- C. They are laughing so hard, they can’t stay still
- B. Laughing in a silly way that’s hard to stop
- B. Laughing loudly and a lot
- A. Laughing quietly alone
- B. Laughing wildly and loudly
- B. People are giggling a lot
- A. Something made you laugh
- B. They laughed so much it made their stomach sore
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
You know these laughing idioms really well. - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love Idioms.
Great job! You’re learning fast. - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
You’re picking up on them keep going! - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love Idioms together.
It’s a good time to learn more. You’ve got this!
Conclusion
Laughing idioms help us describe funny moments in fun ways. Instead of just saying “I laughed,” we can say “I cracked up” or “I was in stitches.” These phrases make stories more interesting and easier to imagine.
Now that you’ve learned many idioms for laughing, try using them in your writing or talking with friends. It can help your words sound more real and clear. Keep noticing how people use these phrases in everyday life.
