Ways of Laughing

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Question	Answer
chuckle: laugh quietly, because you are thinking about something funny. What are you chuckling about? I don't see anything funny.	chuckle: laugh quietly, because you are thinking about something funny. What are you chuckling about? I don't see anything funny.
giggle: laugh quietly and repeatedly because you are nervous or embarrassed. She spilt the wine on the tablecloth and then giggled nervously at me.	giggle: laugh quietly and repeatedly because you are nervous or embarrassed. She spilt the wine on the tablecloth and then giggled nervously at me.
give somebody the giggles: make somebody start giggling.	give somebody the giggles: make somebody start giggling.
titter: laugh quietly, unkindly at something embarrassing. After she ended the lecture, she heard someone tittering.	titter: laugh quietly, unkindly at something embarrassing. After she ended the lecture, she heard someone tittering.
snigger (UK) / snicker (US): laugh quietly, unkindly at something that is not supposed to be funny. When the teacher tripped on the steps, the boys sniggered.	snigger (UK) / snicker (US): laugh quietly, unkindly at something that is not supposed to be funny. When the teacher tripped on the steps, the boys sniggered.
roar / howl / shriek with laughter: laugh very loudly. It was such a good comedy that when it finished, he was still roaring with laughter.	roar / howl / shriek with laughter: laugh very loudly. It was such a good comedy that when it finished, he was still roaring with laughter.
chortle: give a loud chuckle of pleasure or amusement. When I told her the joke, she started to chortle with delight.	chortle: give a loud chuckle of pleasure or amusement. When I told her the joke, she started to chortle with delight.
cackle: laugh loudly in a high voice. When I told her the joke, she started cackling and couldn't stop!	cackle: laugh loudly in a high voice. When I told her the joke, she started cackling and couldn't stop!
guffaw: laugh noisily. They guffawed at what their baby had done.	guffaw: laugh noisily. They guffawed at what their baby had done.
jeer: laugh at somebody or shout unkind things at them. The president was jeered by a crowd of protesters.	jeer: laugh at somebody or shout unkind things at them. The president was jeered by a crowd of protesters.
burst into laughter: suddenly start laughing. The class burst into laughter.	burst into laughter: suddenly start laughing. The class burst into laughter.
laugh your head off: (informal) laugh a lot and loudly. He told us a joke after another, and we laughed our heads off!	laugh your head off: (informal) laugh a lot and loudly. He told us a joke after another, and we laughed our heads off!
smile: make one's mouth curve upwards, in order to be friendly or because one is happy. As the boy left, he smiled at his mother and waved.	smile: make one's mouth curve upwards, in order to be friendly or because one is happy. As the boy left, he smiled at his mother and waved.
beam: smile very happily. The mother looked at her son and beamed proudly.	beam: smile very happily. The mother looked at her son and beamed proudly.
grin: smile widely. When she knew she had won the prize, she grinned broadly.	grin: smile widely. When she knew she had won the prize, she grinned broadly.
simper: smile in a silly and annoying way. He simpered at the boys as he spoke.	simper: smile in a silly and annoying way. He simpered at the boys as he spoke.
smirk: smile in an unpleasant way, to show that you are pleased by somebody's bad luck. The kids smirked when the teacher fell on the floor.	smirk: smile in an unpleasant way, to show that you are pleased by somebody's bad luck. The kids smirked when the teacher fell on the floor.
sneer: smile in an unkind way, showing no respect for somebody. She sneered at his boyfriend's musical tastes.	sneer: smile in an unkind way, showing no respect for somebody. She sneered at his boyfriend's musical tastes.
laugh in somebody's face: to behave in a way that shows no respect for others. I told her my opinion and she just laughed in my face.	laugh in somebody's face: to behave in a way that shows no respect for others. I told her my opinion and she just laughed in my face.
be laughing all the way to the bank: make a lot of money without making much effort.	be laughing all the way to the bank: make a lot of money without making much effort.
somebody will be laughing on the other side of your face: used to mean that although you are happy now, you will be in trouble later.	somebody will be laughing on the other side of your face: used to mean that although you are happy now, you will be in trouble later.
be laughed out of court (US): be rejected because people think it is completely stupid. His idea was laughed out of court.	be laughed out of court (US): be rejected because people think it is completely stupid. His idea was laughed out of court.
laugh up your sleeve: be secretly happy because you played a trick on somebody or you criticized somebody without him knowing.	laugh up your sleeve: be secretly happy because you played a trick on somebody or you criticized somebody without him knowing.
laugh something off: pretend that something is less serious than it really is by laughing about it. The president laughed off rumors that he would resign.	laugh something off: pretend that something is less serious than it really is by laughing about it. The president laughed off rumors that he would resign.
laugh like a drain: laugh heartily. John liked my joke so much, he laughed like a drain.	laugh like a drain: laugh heartily. John liked my joke so much, he laughed like a drain.

	Created by Javier Quintanilla over 2 years ago