laugh
♦♦♦ laugh /l'ɑːf, l'æf/ (laughs laughing laughed)
1 [VERB] V, V with n, V at n, V with quote
When you laugh, you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused. People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly.
He was about to offer an explanation, but she was beginning to laugh...
He laughed with pleasure when people said he looked like his dad...
The British don't laugh at the same jokes as the French...
`I'll be astonished if I win on Sunday,' laughed Lyle.
[N-COUNT]
Laugh is also a noun.
Lysenko gave a deep rumbling laugh at his own joke.
2 [VERB] V at n
If people laugh at someone or something, they mock them or make jokes about them.
I thought they were laughing at me because I was ugly...
3 [PHRASE] PHR with v
If you do something for a laugh or for laughs, you do it as a joke or for fun.
They were persuaded onstage for a laugh by their mates...
It's a project she's doing for laughs.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a person or their comment gets a laugh or raises a laugh, they make the people listening to them laugh. (mainly BRIT)
The joke got a big laugh, which encouraged me to continue.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe a situation as a laugh, a good laugh, or a bit of a laugh, you think that it is fun and do not take it too seriously. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
Working there's great. It's quite a good laugh actually...
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe someone as a laugh or a good laugh, you like them because they are amusing and fun to be with. (mainly BRIT)
Mickey was a good laugh and great to have in the dressing room.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you have the last laugh, you mean that you become successful at something so that people who criticize or oppose you look foolish.
Des O'Connor is expecting to have the last laugh on his critics by soaring to the top of the Christmas hit parade.
8
to laugh your head off: see head
no laughing matter: see matterbel|ly laugh (belly laughs)
also belly-laugh
[N-COUNT]
A belly laugh is a very loud, deep laugh.
Each gag was rewarded with a generous belly-laugh.laugh off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you laugh off a difficult or serious situation, you try to suggest that it is amusing and unimportant, for example by making a joke about it.
The couple laughed off rumours that their marriage was in trouble...
Whilst I used to laugh it off, I'm now getting irritated by it.
1 [VERB] V, V with n, V at n, V with quote
When you laugh, you make a sound with your throat while smiling and show that you are happy or amused. People also sometimes laugh when they feel nervous or are being unfriendly.
He was about to offer an explanation, but she was beginning to laugh...
He laughed with pleasure when people said he looked like his dad...
The British don't laugh at the same jokes as the French...
`I'll be astonished if I win on Sunday,' laughed Lyle.
[N-COUNT]
Laugh is also a noun.
Lysenko gave a deep rumbling laugh at his own joke.
2 [VERB] V at n
If people laugh at someone or something, they mock them or make jokes about them.
I thought they were laughing at me because I was ugly...
3 [PHRASE] PHR with v
If you do something for a laugh or for laughs, you do it as a joke or for fun.
They were persuaded onstage for a laugh by their mates...
It's a project she's doing for laughs.
4 [PHRASE] V inflects
If a person or their comment gets a laugh or raises a laugh, they make the people listening to them laugh. (mainly BRIT)
The joke got a big laugh, which encouraged me to continue.
5 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe a situation as a laugh, a good laugh, or a bit of a laugh, you think that it is fun and do not take it too seriously. (mainly BRIT INFORMAL)
Working there's great. It's quite a good laugh actually...
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If you describe someone as a laugh or a good laugh, you like them because they are amusing and fun to be with. (mainly BRIT)
Mickey was a good laugh and great to have in the dressing room.
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that you have the last laugh, you mean that you become successful at something so that people who criticize or oppose you look foolish.
Des O'Connor is expecting to have the last laugh on his critics by soaring to the top of the Christmas hit parade.
8
to laugh your head off: see head
no laughing matter: see matterbel|ly laugh (belly laughs)
also belly-laugh
[N-COUNT]
A belly laugh is a very loud, deep laugh.
Each gag was rewarded with a generous belly-laugh.laugh off
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you laugh off a difficult or serious situation, you try to suggest that it is amusing and unimportant, for example by making a joke about it.
The couple laughed off rumours that their marriage was in trouble...
Whilst I used to laugh it off, I'm now getting irritated by it.