When you want to describe joy, idioms for laughing make your words sparkle with life. They capture moments when giggles bubble like a spring or laughter bursts like fireworks.
These expressions are simple, vivid, and easy to remember. You’ll hear them in everyday conversations, songs, and stories. They help turn simple laughter into a picture you can almost see.
Best Idioms for Laughing
1. Laugh your head off
Meaning: To laugh very loudly and uncontrollably, as if your head might fall off; creates a feeling of complete release and joy.
In a Sentence:
We laughed our heads off at the comedy show.
She laughed her head off when she heard the joke.
Other Ways to Say: Die laughing. Crack up. Laugh until your sides hurt.
2. In stitches
Meaning: To laugh so hard that you feel like you are being stitched up from the pain of laughing; expresses pure amusement.
In a Sentence:
That movie had us in stitches the whole time.
He was in stitches after hearing her hilarious story.
Other Ways to Say: Rolling on the floor. Laugh your head off. Howl with laughter.
3. Laugh until your sides hurt
Meaning: To laugh so much that your sides feel sore, capturing a sense of deep, physical joy.
In a Sentence:
We laughed until our sides hurt at the family reunion.
She laughed until her sides hurt watching the bloopers.
Other Ways to Say: Belly laugh. Crack up. Split your sides.
4. Roll in the aisles
Meaning: To laugh so much that you feel like rolling on the floor or in the theater aisles; suggests an atmosphere of infectious humor.
In a Sentence:
The audience was rolling in the aisles during the play.
His joke had us rolling in the aisles.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh your head off. In stitches. Die laughing.
5. Laugh like a drain
Meaning: To laugh loudly and heartily, like the rushing of water through a drain; conveys carefree, noisy joy.
In a Sentence:
He laughed like a drain at the comedian’s antics.
She laughed like a drain when the prank worked.
Other Ways to Say: Roar with laughter. Howl with laughter. Cackle like a witch.
6. Belly laugh
Meaning: A loud, deep, hearty laugh that comes from the belly; it feels natural and satisfying.
In a Sentence:
His belly laugh made everyone else start laughing too.
The kids let out belly laughs at the funny cartoon.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh until your sides hurt. Roar with laughter. Howl with laughter.
7. Laugh fit to burst
Meaning: To laugh so hard it feels like you’re about to explode; expresses overwhelming amusement.
In a Sentence:
They laughed fit to burst at the ridiculous skit.
We laughed fit to burst when we saw his costume.
Other Ways to Say: Crack up. Burst out laughing. Laugh your head off.
8. Howl with laughter
Meaning: To laugh loudly and uncontrollably, like the howl of a wolf; suggests intense, unrestrained joy.
In a Sentence:
The crowd howled with laughter at his impressions.
We howled with laughter when she slipped on the banana peel (she was fine!).
Other Ways to Say: Roar with laughter. Laugh like a drain. Belly laugh.
9. Cackle like a witch
Meaning: To laugh in a high-pitched, sharp way, similar to a witch’s laugh; often sounds mischievous and playful.
In a Sentence:
She cackled like a witch after pulling off the prank.
He cackled like a witch when he won the game.
Other Ways to Say: Snicker. Giggle mischievously. Laugh like a drain.
10. Roar with laughter
Meaning: To laugh so loudly it sounds like a lion’s roar; conveys a sense of roaring, communal fun.
In a Sentence:
The audience roared with laughter throughout the show.
He roared with laughter when he saw the old photo.
Other Ways to Say: Howl with laughter. Laugh your head off. Belly laugh.
11. Chuckle to yourself
Meaning: To quietly laugh to yourself, usually over something mildly funny or amusing; it brings a sense of gentle amusement.
In a Sentence:
He chuckled to himself while reading the comic.
She chuckled to herself at the memory of their conversation.
Other Ways to Say: Smile quietly. Giggle softly. Snicker under your breath.
12. Tickled pink
Meaning: To feel very pleased or delighted, as if someone is tickling you until your cheeks turn pink; expresses joy and satisfaction.
In a Sentence:
She was tickled pink by the surprise party.
I was tickled pink when I got the job offer.
Other Ways to Say: Overjoyed. Pleased as punch. Delighted.
13. Giggle like a schoolgirl
Meaning: To giggle in a lighthearted, innocent, and carefree way, like a young girl; suggests pure and youthful joy.
In a Sentence:
They giggled like schoolgirls at the inside joke.
He made her giggle like a schoolgirl with his sweet words.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh playfully. Chuckle. Snicker.
14. Snicker under your breath
Meaning: To laugh quietly or secretly, often at something mischievous or inappropriate; gives a sense of hidden amusement.
In a Sentence:
They snickered under their breath at the teacher’s mistake.
He snickered under his breath when he saw the funny sign.
Other Ways to Say: Stifle a laugh. Suppress a chuckle. Laugh quietly.
15. Titter nervously
Meaning: To laugh in a short, high-pitched, and nervous way, often out of discomfort or embarrassment.
In a Sentence:
She tittered nervously during the awkward conversation.
He tittered nervously when asked about his secret.
Other Ways to Say: Giggle nervously. Chuckle awkwardly. Laugh softly.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Happiness and Smiling Moments
16. Have a quiet laugh
Meaning: To laugh softly or calmly, often when something is gently funny or when you want to avoid drawing attention.
In a Sentence:
They had a quiet laugh over coffee.
I had a quiet laugh watching the cat play.
Other Ways to Say: Chuckle. Smile. Laugh softly.
17. Smirk to yourself
Meaning: To smile or laugh quietly in a self-satisfied or amused way, often because you know something others don’t.
In a Sentence:
He smirked to himself after pulling the prank.
She smirked to herself when she solved the puzzle first.
Other Ways to Say: Grin slyly. Smile knowingly. Laugh softly.
18. Grin like a Cheshire cat
Meaning: To grin broadly and confidently, full of satisfaction or amusement; suggests joyful pride.
In a Sentence:
He grinned like a Cheshire cat after winning the game.
She grinned like a Cheshire cat when she got the good news.
Other Ways to Say: Beam. Smile broadly. Smirk.
19. Chortle with delight
Meaning: To laugh in a joyful, slightly gleeful way, combining a chuckle and a snort; conveys delighted amusement.
In a Sentence:
He chortled with delight when he saw the puppy.
She chortled with delight at the funny cartoon.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh joyfully. Chuckle with glee. Giggle happily.
20. Laugh up your sleeve
Meaning: To laugh quietly or secretly at someone or something, often while pretending to be serious.
In a Sentence:
She was laughing up her sleeve at his mistake.
They laughed up their sleeves when the plan worked.
Other Ways to Say: Snicker secretly. Hide a laugh. Chuckle quietly.
21. Crackup
Meaning: To suddenly start laughing a lot, often because something is unexpectedly funny; expresses uncontrolled amusement.
In a Sentence:
We cracked up at his ridiculous dance moves.
She cracked up when she saw the meme.
Other Ways to Say: Burst out laughing. Die laughing. Lose it.
22. Laugh it off
Meaning: To dismiss a problem, mistake, or embarrassment by laughing, and showing a relaxed and easygoing attitude.
In a Sentence:
He laughed off the criticism and stayed positive.
She tripped but laughed it off gracefully.
Other Ways to Say: Shrug it off. Brush it off. Smile through it.
23. Die Laughing
Meaning: To laugh so much that it feels overwhelming or uncontrollable as if you can’t stop.
In a Sentence:
We were dying laughing at the comedy show.
He told a joke that made us die laughing.
Other Ways to Say: Crack up. Laugh your head off. Roll in the aisles.
24. Laugh in someone’s face
Meaning: To laugh directly at someone, often showing disbelief, mockery, or disrespect.
In a Sentence:
They laughed in his face when he claimed he could win.
She laughed in my face when I asked for a favor.
Other Ways to Say: Mock. Ridicule. Scoff.
25. Get a kick out of
Meaning: To enjoy or find amusement in something; expresses lighthearted pleasure.
In a Sentence:
I get a kick out of watching old cartoons.
She gets a kick out of teasing her brother.
Other Ways to Say: Enjoy. Have fun with it. Find amusing.
26. Laugh like nobody’s watching
Meaning: To laugh freely and openly without worrying about others; conveys joy and authenticity.
In a Sentence:
They laughed like nobody was watching at the festival.
He laughed like nobody was watching when the puppy played.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh freely. Let loose. Laugh openly.
27. Have the last laugh
Meaning: To succeed or prove oneself right after being doubted or mocked; expresses triumph and satisfaction.
In a Sentence:
They doubted her, but she had the last laugh when she won.
He had the last laugh after his idea became a hit.
Other Ways to Say: Win in the End. Prove right. Come out on top.
28. Laugh at the top of your lungs
Meaning: To laugh as loudly as possible, often without holding back; conveys an intense, joyful reaction.
In a Sentence:
She laughed at the top of her lungs at the joke.
They were laughing at the top of their lungs all night.
Other Ways to Say: Roar with laughter. Howl with laughter. Burst out laughing.
29. Find it a laugh
Meaning: To see something as funny or entertaining, often when others might not.
In a Sentence:
He found it a laugh when the cat knocked over the vase.
We found it a laugh when the lights went out during dinner.
Other Ways to Say: See the humor. Enjoy the joke. Find amusing.
30. Laugh yourself silly
Meaning: To laugh so much that you feel lightheaded or foolish; conveys wild, carefree fun.
In a Sentence:
We laughed ourselves silly over the bloopers reel.
She laughed herself silly playing with the kids.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh uncontrollably. Crack up. Die laughing.
31. Burst out laughing
Meaning: To suddenly and loudly start laughing without warning; express surprise and joy.
In a Sentence:
She burst out laughing when she saw his costume.
They burst out laughing at the unexpected punchline.
Other Ways to Say: Crack up. Break into laughter. Lose it.
32. Fall about laughing
Meaning: To laugh so hard you almost fall over; conveys extreme amusement and physical reaction.
In a Sentence:
We fell about laughing at his impressions.
The crowd fell about laughing during the comedy skit.
Other Ways to Say: Roll in the aisles. Split your sides. Die laughing.
33. Break into laughter
Meaning: To suddenly begin laughing, often without warning; suggests a spontaneous reaction.
In a Sentence:
She broke into laughter during the meeting.
They broke into laughter as soon as he entered the room.
Other Ways to Say: Burst out laughing. Crack up. Laugh uncontrollably.
34. Lose it
Meaning: To become unable to control your laughter or emotions; conveys sudden, intense amusement.
In a Sentence:
He completely lost it when he saw the video.
I lost it during the prank and couldn’t stop laughing.
Other Ways to Say: Crack up. Burst out laughing. Fall apart.
35. Double over with laughter
Meaning: To laugh so hard you bend forward, holding your stomach; suggests deep, physical laughter.
In a Sentence:
They doubled over with laughter at the comedian’s jokes.
She was doubled over with laughter watching the bloopers.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh until your sides hurt. Belly laugh. Split your sides.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Friendship You Should Know
36. Laugh out of the blue
Meaning: To laugh suddenly and unexpectedly, often surprising others.
In a Sentence:
He laughed out of the blue during the quiet dinner.
She laughed out of the blue thinking of an old memory.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh unexpectedly. Burst into laughter. Break into laughter.
37. Split your sides
Meaning: To laugh so hard it feels like your sides might burst; conveys intense and uncontrollable joy.
In a Sentence:
We split our sides laughing at the blooper reel.
The joke was so funny I nearly split my sides.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh until your sides hurt. Belly laugh. Roll in the aisles.
38. Laugh uncontrollably
Meaning: To laugh so much that you cannot stop, no matter how hard you try.
In a Sentence:
They laughed uncontrollably at the funny video.
She was laughing uncontrollably after hearing the story.
Other Ways to Say: Crack up. Lose it. Howl with laughter.
39. Snort with laughter
Meaning: To make snorting sounds while laughing, often because you’re laughing too hard to stay composed.
In a Sentence:
He snorted with laughter at the comedian’s joke.
She couldn’t help but snort with laughter during the prank.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh loudly. Giggle uncontrollably. Howl with laughter.
40. Guffaw loudly
Meaning: To laugh in a loud, hearty, and sometimes boisterous way; suggests strong and open amusement.
In a Sentence:
He guffawed loudly at the hilarious scene.
They guffawed loudly when the chair collapsed (no one was hurt!).
Other Ways to Say: Roar with laughter. Belly laugh. Howl with laughter.
41. Have a laugh
Meaning: To enjoy a fun moment or share a joke with others; expresses lighthearted enjoyment.
In a Sentence:
We had a laugh about our old-school memories.
Let’s have a laugh and not take things too seriously.
Other Ways to Say: Share a joke. Enjoy a laugh. Lighten the mood.
42. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To playfully tease or joke with someone to make them laugh.
In a Sentence:
He was just pulling your leg about the promotion.
They pulled his leg about his funny haircut.
Other Ways to Say: Tease. Joke with. Play a trick on.
43. Play it for laughs
Meaning: To intentionally do something just to get laughter or entertain people.
In a Sentence:
He played it for laughs during the presentation.
The actor always plays it for laughs in his roles.
Other Ways to Say: Go for comedy. Aim to entertain. Be funny.
44. Make someone laugh
Meaning: To cause someone to laugh through words, actions, or jokes.
In a Sentence:
She always knows how to make me laugh on bad days.
He made everyone laugh with his funny stories.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer someone up. Crack a joke. Lighten the mood.
45. Crack a joke
Meaning: To tell a funny remark or joke to make people laugh.
In a Sentence:
He cracked a joke to ease the tension in the room.
She loves cracking jokes at family gatherings.
Other Ways to Say: Tell a joke. Make people laugh. Be witty.
46. Be a barrel of laughs
Meaning: To be a very funny person or create a fun, entertaining atmosphere.
In a Sentence:
He’s a barrel of laughs at parties.
Our trip was a barrel of laughs from start to finish.
Other Ways to Say: Be hilarious. Be entertaining. Be fun.
47. Lighten the mood
Meaning: To make a serious or tense atmosphere more relaxed and cheerful using humor.
In a Sentence:
She told a funny story to lighten the mood.
A little humor can help lighten the mood at work.
Other Ways to Say: Ease tension. Bring cheer. Make it lighthearted.
48. Raise a smile
Meaning: To make someone smile or feel a little happier, often with a small joke or kind act.
In a Sentence:
His funny text raised a smile on her face.
Even in hard times, he knows how to raise a smile.
Other Ways to Say: Cheer up. Bring a grin. Brighten someone’s day.
49. Get the giggles
Meaning: To start giggling uncontrollably, often at something silly or for no clear reason.
In a Sentence:
They got the giggles during the serious meeting.
I couldn’t stop myself from getting the giggles at the movie.
Other Ways to Say: Laugh uncontrollably. Break into giggles. Titter.
50. Laugh like a hyena
Meaning: To laugh loudly and wildly, often in a noisy, cackling way like a hyena.
In a Sentence:
He laughed like a hyena at the prank.
They were laughing like hyenas at the comedian’s set.
Other Ways to Say: Howl with laughter. Cackle. Roar with laughter.
Exercise to practice
- When she heard the joke, she __________.
- We were __________ during the comedy show.
- He __________ when his friend tripped over his own shoelaces.
- After the awkward mistake, she tried to __________.
- The whole crowd started to __________ when the performer slipped.
- He couldn’t stop and began to __________ during the meeting.
- They __________ at his hilarious dance moves.
- She __________ at the top of her lungs after hearing the news.
- We were so happy we couldn’t help but __________.
- He __________ to ease the tension in the room.
Answers
- burst out laughing
- in stitches
- cracked up
- laugh it off
- roll in the aisles
- get the giggles
- laughed like a hyena
- laugh at the top of her lungs
- have a laugh
- cracked a joke
Conclusion
Idioms for laughing don’t just tell, they show — they turn a laugh into music, a giggle into sunshine, a chuckle into a soft breeze. They help your words dance, your stories glow, and your conversations bloom. The more you use them, the more your English feels alive. So let these idioms fill your language with color, with sound, with joy — because every laugh deserves a little poetry.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
