Ever wondered why we say someone is “laughing all the way to the bank” or describe a hilarious situation as a “real knee-slapper”?
Idioms add a dash of humor to our everyday language. In this listicle, we’ll explore the meaning behind some of the quirkiest idioms and sprinkle in a few laughs along the way.
What is an Idiom for Funny?
Idioms are expressions that go beyond the literal meaning of their individual words.
They add color to our language, making it more interesting and, in some cases, downright funny. Let’s dive into the humor-packed world of idioms with the following list.
| Idiom | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Laughing all the way to the bank | To make a lot of money, especially through clever or advantageous means. | After launching her homemade cookie business, Lisa found herself laughing all the way to the bank. |
| A barrel of laughs | Something or someone that is very funny or amusing. | Spending time with Jake is always a barrel of laughs; he knows how to lift everyone’s spirits. |
| A real knee-slapper | An extremely funny joke or situation. | The comedian’s performance was a real knee-slapper; the entire audience couldn’t stop laughing. |
| Burst out laughing | To start laughing suddenly and uncontrollably. | When Sam told his embarrassing childhood story, everyone burst out laughing. |
| Crack a joke | To tell a funny or humorous joke. | Sarah knew how to lighten the mood by cracking a joke whenever things got tense. |
| Have a ball | To have a great time; to thoroughly enjoy oneself. | The kids had a ball at the amusement park, riding roller coasters and playing games. |
| Hit the hay laughing | To go to bed in a cheerful or contented mood. | After watching a hilarious movie, Jane hit the hay laughing, still chuckling as she fell asleep. |
| In stitches | Laughing uncontrollably; in fits of laughter. | The comedian’s witty remarks had the entire audience in stitches. |
| It’s a riot | Something that is extremely funny or amusing. | The comedy show last night was a riot; I couldn’t stop laughing from start to finish. |
| Like a cat on a hot tin roof | Restless or anxious, especially in a situation where one is nervous. | Jenny was pacing around the waiting room like a cat on a hot tin roof before her job interview. |
| Make a mountain out of a molehill | To exaggerate a small problem and make it seem much bigger than it really is. | Tom tends to make a mountain out of a molehill; he panics over the smallest issues. |
| Monkey business | Mischievous or deceitful behavior. | The teacher caught the kids engaging in monkey business during recess. |
| On cloud nine | Extremely happy or joyful. | Winning the championship had Sarah on cloud nine for weeks. |
| On pins and needles | Anxious or nervous, especially while waiting for something. | Sally was on pins and needles before getting the exam results. |
| Over the moon | Extremely happy or thrilled. | When the couple got engaged, they were over the moon with joy. |
| Splitting hairs | Arguing or quibbling over very small or insignificant details. | Instead of focusing on the bigger issue, they were just splitting hairs over minor differences. |
| Take the cake | To be the most surprising, impressive, or outstanding. | Your magic trick really takes the cake; I’ve never seen anything like it. |
| Throw in the towel | To give up or surrender; to quit. | After numerous failed attempts, Mike decided to throw in the towel on fixing the old car. |
| Tongue-in-cheek | Humorous or sarcastic, often meant to be taken lightly. | His comment about being the world’s best chef was clearly tongue-in-cheek. |
| Trip the light fantastic | To dance in a lively or elaborate manner. | At the wedding, the guests were eager to trip the light fantastic on the dance floor. |
| Up in arms | Angry, upset, or ready to protest about something. | The community was up in arms when they heard about the proposed construction project. |
| Wild goose chase | A futile or hopeless search or pursuit. | Trying to find my lost keys in the dark alley turned out to be a wild goose chase. |
| You can’t judge a book by its cover | One cannot judge someone or something based solely on appearance. | Despite his gruff exterior, Mr. Johnson is kind-hearted; you can’t judge a book by its cover. |
| Your guess is as good as mine | I don’t know; I have no idea. | When asked about the mysterious noise, Tom shrugged and said, “Your guess is as good as mine.” |
| Zig when one should zag | To make a mistake or choose the wrong course of action. | Instead of following the instructions, Jack decided to zig when he should have zagged, leading to a mix-up. |
| Zip your lip | Be quiet; stop talking. | During the test, the teacher sternly reminded the students to zip their lips and focus on their work. |
| A day late and a dollar short | Too little, too late; not having what is needed at the right time. | John’s apology came a day late and a dollar short; the damage was already done. |
To find more metaphors for funny situations, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Funny. Similarly, similes provide comparisons that help us understand humor better, such as saying it’s as amusing as a clown at a birthday party. Explore additional similes for funny moments here: Similes for Funny.
Idioms for Funny
1. Laughing all the way to the bank
Meaning: To make a lot of money, especially through clever or advantageous means.
In a Sentence: After launching her homemade cookie business, Lisa found herself laughing all the way to the bank.
2. A barrel of laughs
Meaning: Something or someone that is very funny or amusing.
In a Sentence: Spending time with Jake is always a barrel of laughs; he knows how to lift everyone’s spirits.
3. A real knee-slapper
Meaning: An extremely funny joke or situation.
In a Sentence: The comedian’s performance was a real knee-slapper; the entire audience couldn’t stop laughing.
4. Burst out laughing
Meaning: To start laughing suddenly and uncontrollably.
In a Sentence: When Sam told his embarrassing childhood story, everyone burst out laughing.
5. Crack a joke
Meaning: To tell a funny or humorous joke.
In a Sentence: Sarah knew how to lighten the mood by cracking a joke whenever things got tense.
6. Have a ball
Meaning: To have a great time; to thoroughly enjoy oneself.
In a Sentence: The kids had a ball at the amusement park, riding roller coasters and playing games.
7. Hit the hay laughing
Meaning: To go to bed in a cheerful or contented mood.
In a Sentence: After watching a hilarious movie, Jane hit the hay laughing, still chuckling as she fell asleep.
8. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably; in fits of laughter.
In a Sentence: The comedian’s witty remarks had the entire audience in stitches.
9. It’s a riot
Meaning: Something that is extremely funny or amusing.
In a Sentence: The comedy show last night was a riot; I couldn’t stop laughing from start to finish.
10. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Restless or anxious, especially in a situation where one is nervous.
In a Sentence: Jenny was pacing around the waiting room like a cat on a hot tin roof before her job interview.
11. Make a mountain out of a molehill
Meaning: To exaggerate a small problem and make it seem much bigger than it really is.
In a Sentence: Tom tends to make a mountain out of a molehill; he panics over the smallest issues.
12. Monkey business
Meaning: Mischievous or deceitful behavior.
In a Sentence: The teacher caught the kids engaging in monkey business during recess.
13. On cloud nine
Meaning: Extremely happy or joyful.
In a Sentence: Winning the championship had Sarah on cloud nine for weeks.
14. On pins and needles
Meaning: Anxious or nervous, especially while waiting for something.
In a Sentence: Sally was on pins and needles before getting the exam results.
15. Over the moon
Meaning: Extremely happy or thrilled.
In a Sentence: When the couple got engaged, they were over the moon with joy.
16. Splitting hairs
Meaning: Arguing or quibbling over very small or insignificant details.
In a Sentence: Instead of focusing on the bigger issue, they were just splitting hairs over minor differences.
17. Take the cake
Meaning: To be the most surprising, impressive, or outstanding.
In a Sentence: Your magic trick really takes the cake; I’ve never seen anything like it.
18. Throw in the towel
Meaning: To give up or surrender; to quit.
In a Sentence: After numerous failed attempts, Mike decided to throw in the towel on fixing the old car.
19. Tongue-in-cheek
Meaning: Humorous or sarcastic, often meant to be taken lightly.
In a Sentence: His comment about being the world’s best chef was clearly tongue-in-cheek.
20. Trip the light fantastic
Meaning: To dance in a lively or elaborate manner.
In a Sentence: At the wedding, the guests were eager to trip the light fantastic on the dance floor.
21. Up in arms
Meaning: Angry, upset, or ready to protest about something.
In a Sentence: The community was up in arms when they heard about the proposed construction project.
22. Wild goose chase
Meaning: A futile or hopeless search or pursuit.
In a Sentence: Trying to find my lost keys in the dark alley turned out to be a wild goose chase.
23. You can’t judge a book by its cover
Meaning: One cannot judge someone or something based solely on appearance.
In a Sentence: Despite his gruff exterior, Mr. Johnson is kind-hearted; you can’t judge a book by its cover.
24. Your guess is as good as mine
Meaning: I don’t know; I have no idea.
In a Sentence: When asked about the mysterious noise, Tom shrugged and said, “Your guess is as good as mine.”
25. Zig when one should zag
Meaning: To make a mistake or choose the wrong course of action.
In a Sentence: Instead of following the instructions, Jack decided to zig when he should have zagged, leading to a mix-up.
26. Zip your lip
Meaning: Be quiet; stop talking.
In a Sentence: During the test, the teacher sternly reminded the students to zip their lips and focus on their work.
27. A day late and a dollar short
Meaning: Too little, too late; not having what is needed at the right time.
In a Sentence: John’s apology came a day late and a dollar short; the damage was already done.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: What’s the Meaning?
Question: What does the idiom “Laughing all the way to the bank” mean?
a) To make friends at the bank
b) To withdraw money happily
c) To make a lot of money, especially through clever means
d) To tell jokes in a bank
Quiz 2: Identify the Expression
Question: Which idiom describes something or someone that is very funny or amusing?
a) A real knee-slapper
b) Burst out laughing
c) In stitches
d) Have a ball
Quiz 3: Finish the Sentence
Question: Complete the sentence: “After watching a hilarious movie, Jane ____________.”
a) Burst out laughing
b) Hit the hay laughing
c) Cracked a joke
d) Made a mountain out of a molehill
Quiz 4: Choose the Correct Meaning
Question: What does the idiom “Splitting hairs” mean?
a) Cutting hair in half
b) Arguing over small details
c) Celebrating a haircut
d) Sharing hair accessories
Quiz 5: Identify the Feeling
Question: In the expression “On cloud nine,” how does the person feel?
a) Sad
b) Angry
c) Extremely happy
d) Nervous
Quiz 6: Pick the Right Phrase
Question: Which idiom means to quit or give up?
a) Take the cake
b) Throw in the towel
c) Monkey business
d) Zig when one should zag
Quiz 7: Recognize the Situation
Question: When would someone be described as “Like a cat on a hot tin roof”?
a) When they are calm and collected
b) When they are restless or anxious
c) When they are napping in the sun
d) When they are dancing happily
Quiz 8: Identify the Expression
Question: Which idiom means to be in fits of laughter?
a) Hit the hay laughing
b) A barrel of laughs
c) In stitches
d) Burst out laughing
Quiz 9: Choose the Opposite
Question: What is the opposite of “Wild goose chase”?
a) Successful pursuit
b) Calm stroll
c) Futile search
d) Organized expedition
Quiz 10: Complete the Phrase
Question: Finish the phrase: “You can’t judge a book ____________.”
a) Without reading it
b) By its thickness
c) By its weight
d) Based on its font size
Conclusion
And there you have it, a glimpse into the world of idioms for funny! These expressions add a touch of humor to our language, making communication more lively and enjoyable.
