Laughter is a universal language and it’s also a way of life.
We love to express humor through vivid, creative idioms that capture every kind of funny moment from a quiet chuckle to a full-blown laughing fit.
These expressions don’t just describe laughter; they bring it to life.
Idioms for Funny
1. A barrel of laughs
Meaning: Someone or something that’s very funny or entertaining.
Usage:
That comedy show was a barrel of laughs.
He’s always joking around — a real barrel of laughs.
2. Laugh one’s head off
Meaning: To laugh uncontrollably or very hard.
Usage:
We laughed our heads off watching that movie.
She told a story that made everyone laugh their heads off.
3. Crack someone up
Meaning: To make someone laugh suddenly and uncontrollably.
Usage:
His impressions always crack me up.
That meme cracked her up instantly.
4. In stitches
Meaning: Laughing so hard it hurts.
Usage:
We were all in stitches after hearing his joke.
That stand-up comedian had the audience in stitches.
5. Rolling in the aisles
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably, usually in a group setting.
Usage:
The audience was rolling in the aisles during the show.
His ridiculous dance moves had us rolling in the aisles.
6. Tickled pink
Meaning: Extremely pleased or amused.
Usage:
She was tickled pink by her son’s funny drawing.
I was tickled pink when I heard that silly joke.
7. Bust a gut
Meaning: To laugh really hard or uncontrollably.
Usage:
I almost busted a gut laughing at that prank video.
They were busting a gut during the comedy night.
8. Split one’s sides
Meaning: To laugh so much it feels like your sides will burst.
Usage:
We were splitting our sides laughing at that joke.
The crowd split their sides when he messed up the punchline.
9. Laugh like a drain
Meaning: To laugh loudly and without restraint.
Usage:
He laughed like a drain at his own joke.
They laughed like drains the entire evening.
10. Have a good laugh
Meaning: To enjoy something funny; to laugh and feel relaxed.
Usage:
We had a good laugh remembering our old school days.
Everyone had a good laugh when he slipped on stage.
11. A knee-slapper
Meaning: Something extremely funny or hilarious.
Usage:
That joke was a real knee-slapper!
The whole show was full of knee-slappers.
12. Dying of laughter
Meaning: Laughing so hard it feels like you can’t breathe.
Usage:
We were dying of laughter watching that blooper reel.
She was dying of laughter after hearing that story.
13. Burst out laughing
Meaning: To start laughing suddenly and loudly.
Usage:
He burst out laughing when he saw the funny costume.
The class burst out laughing at the teacher’s joke.
14. Have someone in hysterics
Meaning: To make someone laugh uncontrollably.
Usage:
His stand-up routine had everyone in hysterics.
She had us in hysterics with her impressions.
15. Make a clown of oneself
Meaning: To act silly or foolish, often making others laugh.
Usage:
He made a clown of himself trying to dance.
She loves making a clown of herself to make others smile.
16. Funny bone
Meaning: The part of one’s sense of humor; what makes someone laugh.
Usage:
That show really hits my funny bone.
He’s got a quirky sense of humor that tickles everyone’s funny bone.
17. Burst out giggling
Meaning: To start giggling suddenly.
Usage:
The kids burst out giggling during the play.
I couldn’t help it — I burst out giggling in the meeting.
18. Comic relief
Meaning: A funny moment that lightens a serious situation.
Usage:
His silly jokes provided comic relief during the tense meeting.
The funny scene was a perfect comic relief in the movie.
19. A laugh a minute
Meaning: Constantly funny or entertaining.
Usage:
Traveling with her is a laugh a minute.
That show was a laugh a minute from start to finish.
20. Crack a smile
Meaning: To begin smiling slightly, often after being serious.
Usage:
Even the grumpy boss cracked a smile at the joke.
She finally cracked a smile after hearing the funny story.
21. Grin from ear to ear
Meaning: To smile broadly, often from happiness or amusement.
Usage:
He was grinning from ear to ear after that hilarious prank.
The kids were grinning from ear to ear all evening.
22. Hold one’s sides
Meaning: To laugh so hard that you have to hold your stomach or sides.
Usage:
I was holding my sides after hearing his ridiculous story.
The audience held their sides with laughter during the show.
23. Die laughing
Meaning: To laugh extremely hard, often exaggerated for effect.
Usage:
I nearly died laughing at that TikTok video.
We all died laughing when he tripped during the dance.
24. Rolling on the floor laughing
Meaning: Laughing uncontrollably; often abbreviated as ROFL online.
Usage:
That joke had me rolling on the floor laughing.
She was rolling on the floor laughing after reading those comments.
25. Laugh up one’s sleeve
Meaning: To secretly laugh or be amused, especially while pretending not to.
Usage:
He was laughing up his sleeve while watching the prank unfold.
She acted serious, but I knew she was laughing up her sleeve.
26. Burst into laughter
Meaning: To suddenly start laughing loudly.
Usage:
Everyone burst into laughter after his funny comment.
She burst into laughter when she saw the dog wearing glasses.
27. Fall about laughing
Meaning: To laugh uncontrollably, often bending over or falling from laughter.
Usage:
We fell about laughing at his impersonations.
The crowd fell about laughing at the comedian’s jokes.
28. Make someone’s day
Meaning: To do or say something that makes someone very happy or amused.
Usage:
That funny meme really made my day.
His joke made everyone’s day at the office.
29. Funny as a crutch (sarcastic)
Meaning: Not funny at all; said ironically when something fails to be humorous.
Usage:
Wow, that was funny as a crutch — not!
His joke was about as funny as a crutch.
30. Laugh like a hyena
Meaning: To laugh loudly and wildly.
Usage:
She laughed like a hyena at every punchline.
We were laughing like hyenas all night long.
31. Have the last laugh
Meaning: To ultimately succeed or be amused after others doubted or laughed at you.
Usage:
They laughed at his idea, but he had the last laugh when it became a hit.
She’ll have the last laugh when her business takes off.
32. Pull someone’s leg
Meaning: To tease or joke with someone in a playful way.
Usage:
Relax, I’m just pulling your leg!
He told me he met a celebrity, but he was only pulling my leg.
33. Funny business
Meaning: Suspicious or silly behavior; can mean joking or mischief.
Usage:
No funny business while I’m gone, kids.
There’s some funny business going on with that story.
34. Laugh all the way to the bank
Meaning: To profit or benefit greatly from something others doubted or mocked.
Usage:
People laughed at his app idea, but he’s laughing all the way to the bank now.
She’s laughing all the way to the bank after that movie went viral.
35. Good one!
Meaning: A casual expression meaning “that was funny!” or “nice joke!”
Usage:
Good one! You really got me there.
He cracked a pun, and everyone said, “Good one!”
36. Have a sense of humor
Meaning: To be able to laugh at things, including yourself.
Usage:
You’ve got to have a sense of humor to work in that office.
He doesn’t take things too seriously — he’s got a great sense of humor.
37. Make a funny face
Meaning: To distort your face in a humorous or silly way.
Usage:
The baby laughed when Dad made a funny face.
She always makes funny faces during photos.
38. Comic timing
Meaning: The ability to deliver jokes or funny moments at the perfect time.
Usage:
His comic timing is perfect — every line hits just right.
Good comedians rely on comic timing to make people laugh.
39. Laugh like nobody’s watching
Meaning: To laugh freely and without worrying about how you look.
Usage:
She laughs like nobody’s watching, and it’s contagious.
We were laughing like nobody’s watching the whole night.
40. Burst one’s bubble (often used humorously)
Meaning: To ruin someone’s happiness or joke playfully.
Usage:
Hate to burst your bubble, but that wasn’t the real actor.
She burst my bubble when she told me the show was canceled.
41. A laughing matter
Meaning: Something that’s funny or worth laughing about (often used ironically).
Usage:
Losing your phone isn’t exactly a laughing matter.
The prank was harmless, so it became a laughing matter later.
42. Crack a joke
Meaning: To tell a funny story or make a humorous comment.
Usage:
He’s always cracking jokes to lighten the mood.
She cracked a joke that broke the tension in the room.
43. Have someone rolling
Meaning: To make someone laugh a lot.
Usage:
His stories always have us rolling with laughter.
The comedian had the crowd rolling all night.
44. Laugh your socks off
Meaning: To laugh very hard or uncontrollably.
Usage:
We laughed our socks off watching that blooper reel.
You’ll laugh your socks off when you see that movie.
45. Make someone crack up
Meaning: To make someone start laughing suddenly.
Usage:
Her imitation of the teacher made everyone crack up.
He cracked me up with that silly voice.
46. Lighten the mood
Meaning: To make a serious or tense situation more relaxed and funny.
Usage:
He told a joke to lighten the mood during the meeting.
Her humor always lightens the mood in tough times.
47. Laugh oneself silly
Meaning: To laugh so much that you feel exhausted or dizzy.
Usage:
We laughed ourselves silly at that stand-up show.
The kids laughed themselves silly during the puppet show.
48. A real character
Meaning: A person who is amusing, eccentric, or funny in a charming way.
Usage:
My uncle’s a real character — he can make anyone laugh.
That teacher’s such a character, everyone loves her stories.
49. Have a funny feeling
Meaning: To have a strange or humorous hunch about something.
Usage:
I have a funny feeling he’s planning a surprise.
She had a funny feeling something hilarious was about to happen.
50. Laughing fit
Meaning: A sudden burst of uncontrollable laughter.
Usage:
We had a laughing fit after seeing that meme.
He got into a laughing fit during the presentation.
51. Get a kick out of something
Meaning: To find something very amusing or entertaining.
Usage:
I get a kick out of those old comedy shows.
She really gets a kick out of watching funny cat videos.
52. Goof around
Meaning: To play or act silly; to joke without being serious.
Usage:
We were just goofing around and making each other laugh.
The kids love to goof around before bedtime.
53. Cut up
Meaning: To act silly or make people laugh.
Usage:
He was cutting up the whole time during the meeting.
Those two always cut up when they’re together.
54. Laugh oneself to tears
Meaning: To laugh so hard that tears come out.
Usage:
I laughed myself to tears watching that sketch.
The whole room laughed themselves to tears.
55. Play for laughs
Meaning: To say or do something mainly to get people to laugh.
Usage:
He played for laughs with that silly dance.
The actor’s scene was clearly played for laughs.
56. Laughter is the best medicine
Meaning: Humor helps people feel better and reduces stress.
Usage:
After a hard day, we watched a funny movie — laughter is the best medicine.
They say laughter is the best medicine, and I believe it.
57. Not a dry eye in the house (humorously inverted)
Meaning: Everyone was laughing so hard that they were crying.
Usage:
When he told that story, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house — from laughter!
Her comic act had everyone crying tears of joy.
58. Laugh away
Meaning: To laugh freely and without restraint.
Usage:
They laughed away the entire evening.
We sat by the fire and laughed away our worries.
59. Funny as heck
Meaning: Very funny; hilarious.
Usage:
That stand-up special was funny as heck.
You’ve got to watch this — it’s funny as heck.
60. Get the giggles
Meaning: To start laughing uncontrollably, often at the wrong time.
Usage:
We got the giggles during the church service.
She got the giggles in the middle of her speech.
61. Bust out laughing
Meaning: To suddenly start laughing loudly.
Usage:
He busted out laughing when he saw the blooper.
We all busted out laughing during the commercial.
62. Double over laughing
Meaning: To bend over because you’re laughing so hard.
Usage:
I doubled over laughing when he slipped on the banana peel.
They doubled over laughing at the comedian’s punchline.
63. Laugh it off
Meaning: To deal with something embarrassing or awkward by laughing instead of getting upset.
Usage:
He spilled coffee on himself but just laughed it off.
When she fell on stage, she laughed it off like a pro.
64. Crack up laughing
Meaning: To suddenly start laughing loudly or uncontrollably.
Usage:
We all cracked up laughing when he made that goofy face.
She cracked up laughing during the meeting and couldn’t stop.
65. Laugh your head off
Meaning: To laugh very hard and loudly.
Usage:
I laughed my head off watching that sketch show.
The kids laughed their heads off at the clown’s tricks.
66. Comic gold
Meaning: Something that is extremely funny or successful as comedy.
Usage:
That improv performance was pure comic gold.
Her blooper reel turned out to be comic gold.
67. Funny as all get-out
Meaning: Extremely funny; hilarious (Southern U.S. expression).
Usage:
That comedian is funny as all get-out.
The movie was funny as all get-out from start to finish.
68. Make someone lose it
Meaning: To make someone laugh so hard that they can’t control themselves.
Usage:
He made me lose it with that ridiculous dance.
The video was so funny it made the whole class lose it.
69. Laugh oneself sick
Meaning: To laugh so much that you feel exhausted or even sore.
Usage:
We laughed ourselves sick watching those prank videos.
He laughed himself sick after that silly prank went wrong.
