Laughter is one of the best feelings in the world, and when it’s so contagious that it makes you laugh hard, you might just find yourself searching for the perfect words to describe it.
These expressions add a colorful twist to our everyday language. In this article, we’ll explore some popular idioms for laughing, giving you the scoop on what they mean and how to use them in a sentence.

What is an idiom for laughing?
Idioms are phrases or expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. Instead, they have a hidden or implied meaning that can be quite different from their literal interpretation.
Idioms for laughing, in particular, are colorful and vivid expressions used to describe the act of laughing in various ways.
Let’s dive into some of these idioms and get a clearer picture of their meanings and usage.
Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
---|---|---|
Laughing all the way to the bank | Being extremely happy or delighted, often due to financial success or gains. | After winning the lottery, Sarah was laughing all the way to the bank as she cashed in her million-dollar prize. |
Laughing your head off | Laughing uncontrollably and with great intensity. | The comedian’s performance was so hilarious that the entire audience was laughing their heads off. |
Rolling in the aisles | Laughing so hard that you are literally rolling on the floor with laughter. | The comedy show was so side-splittingly funny that the audience was rolling in the aisles. |
Bust a gut laughing | Laughing so hard that you feel a sharp pain in your stomach. | My friends always tell the funniest jokes, and I often bust a gut laughing when we hang out. |
Splitting your sides | Laughing so much that it feels like your sides are going to split or burst. | The stand-up comedian’s performance had everyone in the theater splitting their sides with laughter. |
Cracking up | Bursting into laughter or finding something extremely funny. | Even on the gloomiest days, a good joke can always crack me up. |
Laughing fit to burst | Laughing so hard that it feels like you might burst from the intensity of your laughter. | When we watched the hilarious movie, we were all laughing fit to burst by the end. |
Falling about laughing | Laughing uncontrollably and unable to stop. | The comedian’s witty humor had the entire audience falling about laughing throughout the performance. |
In stitches | Laughing so hard that you are doubled over in laughter, as if you’ve had stitches. | Sarah’s hilarious impersonation of the teacher left the class in stitches. |
Cackling with laughter | Laughing loudly and in a somewhat unsettling manner, similar to the sound of a cackling witch. | As the horror movie reached its climax, my sister was cackling with laughter, not fear. |
Chortling | Chuckling or laughing quietly in a somewhat gleeful manner. | Whenever he tells a funny story, he can’t help but chortle with amusement. |
Guffawing | Laughing loudly and heartily. | The unexpected twist in the plot had the audience guffawing with surprise. |
Snickering | Laughing in a sneaky or mocking way, often quietly. | We caught the mischievous students snickering in the back of the classroom. |
Roaring with laughter | Laughing so loudly that it sounds like a roar. | The comedy club was filled with people roaring with laughter at the comedian’s hilarious jokes. |
Hooting with laughter | Laughing loudly and with a sound similar to an owl’s hoot. | The kids were hooting with laughter as they watched the clown’s silly antics at the circus. |
Busting out laughing | Suddenly and uncontrollably starting to laugh. | When my friend tripped and fell, I couldn’t help but bust out laughing. |
Laughing like a hyena | Laughing in a wild, loud, and uncontrollable manner, similar to the sound of a hyena. | Despite the seriousness of the situation, John was laughing like a hyena during the board meeting. |
Laughing like a drain | Laughing loudly and excessively. | The comedy show had the audience laughing like a drain throughout the entire performance. |
Belly laughs | Deep, hearty, and uncontrollable laughter. | Whenever my grandpa tells his funny stories, we all end up with belly laughs. |
Can’t stop laughing | Being unable to control one’s laughter due to something extremely funny. | The prank was so hilarious that I couldn’t stop laughing for hours. |
Laughing like a maniac | Laughing in a crazy or uncontrollable manner. | After watching the comedy special, I found myself laughing like a maniac for a good while. |
Laughing like a lunatic | Laughing in a manner that appears crazy or irrational. | The stress of the situation got to him, and he started laughing like a lunatic. |
Laughing like a banshee | Laughing loudly and eerily, similar to the mythical banshee’s wail. | During the spooky campfire stories, Mary was laughing like a banshee, adding to the eerie atmosphere. |
Hysterical laughter | Laughing uncontrollably and with intense emotion, often in response to something absurd or absurdly funny. | The ridiculous antics of the puppy had us in fits of hysterical laughter. |
Laughing up your sleeve | Concealing your laughter, often when amused by someone’s misfortune. | Despite her attempt to remain serious, she couldn’t help but laugh up her sleeve when her brother slipped on a banana peel. |
Laughing up a storm | Laughing loudly and energetically, often in a boisterous manner. | The party was a success, with everyone laughing up a storm and enjoying themselves. |
Laughing your socks off | Laughing so hard that it feels like your socks might come off due to the intensity of your laughter. | The comedy show had us all laughing our socks off until our cheeks hurt. |
Laughing is like a melody of joy, filling the air with the sweetest music of happiness. If you’re interested in more comparisons to describe laughing, you can visit this link: Similes for laughing. And for a variety of metaphors related to laughing, you can explore this link: Metaphors for laughing.
Idioms for Laughing
1. Laughing all the way to the bank
Meaning: Being extremely happy or delighted, often due to financial success or gains.
In a Sentence: After winning the lottery, Sarah was laughing all the way to the bank as she cashed in her million-dollar prize.
2. Laughing your head off
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably and with great intensity.
In a Sentence: The comedian’s performance was so hilarious that the entire audience was laughing their heads off.
3. Rolling in the aisles
Meaning: Laughing so hard that you are literally rolling on the floor with laughter.
In a Sentence: The comedy show was so side-splittingly funny that the audience was rolling in the aisles.
4. Bust a gut laughing
Meaning: Laughing so hard that you feel a sharp pain in your stomach.
In a Sentence: My friends always tell the funniest jokes, and I often bust a gut laughing when we hang out.
5. Splitting your sides
Meaning: Laughing so much that it feels like your sides are going to split or burst.
In a Sentence: The stand-up comedian’s performance had everyone in the theater splitting their sides with laughter.
6. Cracking up
Meaning: Bursting into laughter or finding something extremely funny.
In a Sentence: Even on the gloomiest days, a good joke can always crack me up.
7. Laughing fit to burst
Meaning: Laughing so hard that it feels like you might burst from the intensity of your laughter.
In a Sentence: When we watched the hilarious movie, we were all laughing fit to burst by the end.
8. Falling about laughing
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably and unable to stop.
In a Sentence: The comedian’s witty humor had the entire audience falling about laughing throughout the performance.
9. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing so hard that you are doubled over in laughter, as if you’ve had stitches.
In a Sentence: Sarah’s hilarious impersonation of the teacher left the class in stitches.
10. Cackling with laughter
Meaning: Laughing loudly and in a somewhat unsettling manner, similar to the sound of a cackling witch.
In a Sentence: As the horror movie reached its climax, my sister was cackling with laughter, not fear.
11. Chortling
Meaning: Chuckling or laughing quietly in a somewhat gleeful manner.
In a Sentence: Whenever he tells a funny story, he can’t help but chortle with amusement.
12. Guffawing
Meaning: Laughing loudly and heartily.
In a Sentence: The unexpected twist in the plot had the audience guffawing with surprise.
13. Snickering
Meaning: Laughing in a sneaky or mocking way, often quietly.
In a Sentence: We caught the mischievous students snickering in the back of the classroom.
14. Roaring with laughter
Meaning: Laughing so loudly that it sounds like a roar.
In a Sentence: The comedy club was filled with people roaring with laughter at the comedian’s hilarious jokes.
15. Hooting with laughter
Meaning: Laughing loudly and with a sound similar to an owl’s hoot.
In a Sentence: The kids were hooting with laughter as they watched the clown’s silly antics at the circus.
16. Busting out laughing
Meaning: Suddenly and uncontrollably starting to laugh.
In a Sentence: When my friend tripped and fell, I couldn’t help but bust out laughing.
17. Laughing like a hyena
Meaning: Laughing in a wild, loud, and uncontrollable manner, similar to the sound of a hyena.
In a Sentence: Despite the seriousness of the situation, John was laughing like a hyena during the board meeting.
18. Laughing like a drain
Meaning: Laughing loudly and excessively.
In a Sentence: The comedy show had the audience laughing like a drain throughout the entire performance.
19. Belly laughs
Meaning: Deep, hearty, and uncontrollable laughter.
In a Sentence: Whenever my grandpa tells his funny stories, we all end up with belly laughs.
20. Can’t stop laughing
Meaning: Being unable to control one’s laughter due to something extremely funny.
In a Sentence: The prank was so hilarious that I couldn’t stop laughing for hours.
21. Laughing like a maniac
Meaning: Laughing in a crazy or uncontrollable manner.
In a Sentence: After watching the comedy special, I found myself laughing like a maniac for a good while.
22. Laughing like a lunatic
Meaning: Laughing in a manner that appears crazy or irrational.
In a Sentence: The stress of the situation got to him, and he started laughing like a lunatic.
23. Laughing like a banshee
Meaning: Laughing loudly and eerily, similar to the mythical banshee’s wail.
In a Sentence: During the spooky campfire stories, Mary was laughing like a banshee, adding to the eerie atmosphere.
24. Hysterical laughter
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably and with intense emotion, often in response to something absurd or absurdly funny.
In a Sentence: The ridiculous antics of the puppy had us in fits of hysterical laughter.
25. Laughing up your sleeve
Meaning: Concealing your laughter, often when amused by someone’s misfortune.
In a Sentence: Despite her attempt to remain serious, she couldn’t help but laugh up her sleeve when her brother slipped on a banana peel.
26. Laughing up a storm
Meaning: Laughing loudly and energetically, often in a boisterous manner.
In a Sentence: The party was a success, with everyone laughing up a storm and enjoying themselves.
27. Laughing your socks off
Meaning: Laughing so hard that it feels like your socks might come off due to the intensity of your laughter.
In a Sentence: The comedy show had us all laughing our socks off until our cheeks hurt.
Quizzes About The Idioms in The Article
Quiz 1:
- What does the idiom “Laughing all the way to the bank” mean?
a) Laughing loudly in a bank
b) Being extremely happy due to financial success
c) Laughing while counting money
Quiz 2:
- Which idiom describes laughing uncontrollably and with great intensity?
a) Rolling in the aisles
b) Cracking up
c) Laughing like a hyena
Quiz 3:
- What idiom suggests that you are laughing so hard that it feels like your sides might split?
a) Splitting your sides
b) Chortling
c) Cackling with laughter
Quiz 4:
- If you find something extremely funny and burst into laughter, which idiom are you doing?
a) Cracking up
b) Bust a gut laughing
c) Laughing fit to burst
Quiz 5:
- Which idiom means laughing so loudly and heartily that it sounds like a roar?
a) Guffawing
b) Snickering
c) Hooting with laughter
Quiz 6:
- If you can’t control your laughter due to something extremely funny, which idiom applies?
a) Can’t stop laughing
b) Laughing like a lunatic
c) In stitches
Quiz 7:
- What does the idiom “Laughing up your sleeve” imply?
a) Laughing while wearing a long-sleeved shirt
b) Concealing your laughter, often when amused by someone’s misfortune
c) Laughing in a silly manner
Quiz 8:
- Which idiom means laughing in a crazy or uncontrollable manner?
a) Laughing like a maniac
b) Laughing up a storm
c) Belly laughs
Quiz 9:
- If you’re laughing so hard that you feel like your socks might come off, which idiom is it?
a) Laughing like a banshee
b) Laughing your socks off
c) Hysterical laughter
Quiz 10:
- What idiom describes laughing uncontrollably and unable to stop?
a) Falling about laughing
b) Roaring with laughter
c) Busting out laughing
Answers:
- b) Being extremely happy due to financial success
- a) Rolling in the aisles
- a) Splitting your sides
- a) Cracking up
- a) Guffawing
- a) Can’t stop laughing
- b) Concealing your laughter, often when amused by someone’s misfortune
- a) Laughing like a maniac
- b) Laughing your socks off
- a) Falling about laughing
Conclusion
Now that you’ve got a handle on these idioms for laughing, you can add a touch of humor and expressiveness to your conversations. Whether you’re rolling in the aisles or just enjoying some belly laughs, these idioms are sure to bring a smile to your face and lighten the mood.