To laugh meaning in English
Learn how to use To laugh correctly with Gymglish.
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Definition
to laugh: to express amusement or happiness audibly
The movie was so funny, Harry couldn't stop laughing.
to laugh at (someone): to mock, to make fun of, to ridicule (a person)
My friends laughed at me when I got the answer wrong in class.
the laughter, the laugh: the act or sound of laughing
The sound of the children's laughter was pleasant.
Pronunciation examples
UK: The movie about the clown made Horatio laugh and cry.
US: The sound of children's laughter echoed in my ears.
Examples
- "When you laugh, it's like a small accordion which plays in the little metro of my mind."
- "They laughed at you?"
- "Brian : Well Philip, your jokes are so bad they make me laugh... at you!"
- "( laughter ) What is so funny?"
- "Todd : Well, I'm trying as hard as I can to laugh, but nothing is coming out."
- "So many of my au pairs hate laughter."
- "Philip : Todd, is laughing!"
- "Bruno ( laughing): Oh, you're serious."
- "It was a year of thrills, laughs, suspense and drama, all directed by you, the amazing Gymglish studio audience!"
- "Hannah : O'er the hills we go, laughing all the way!"
- "That's why I propose that rather than company-wide "nap time", we institute a company-wide "laugh time"."
- "Icarus : (laughs)"
- "We've had some laughs, some nice big laughs"
- "Philip : Bells on bobtail ring, singing spirits bright, oh what fun it is to laugh and sing, a sleighing song tonight!"
- "On the corner is a banker with a motorcar, the little children laugh at him behind his back."
- "I had barely started reading your email before I began laughing hysterically."
- "Now, if you can make me laugh, then I can bring Earth humor back to my planet."
- "I still laugh at the joke you told me - the one about the dwarf, the calculator and the twin sisters."
Exercise 1
'I'll be here for hours if you want me to answer those questions thoroughly'.
The word 'thorough', like many words containing 'gh', is often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. Sometimes 'gh' is silent and other times it is pronounced with a 'ff' sound.
From the list below, select the word(s) with a silent 'gh', like the term 'thoroughly'.
The word 'thorough', like many words containing 'gh', is often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. Sometimes 'gh' is silent and other times it is pronounced with a 'ff' sound.
From the list below, select the word(s) with a silent 'gh', like the term 'thoroughly'.
'I'll be here for hours if you want me to answer those questions thoroughly'.
The word 'thorough', like many words containing 'gh', is often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. Sometimes 'gh' is silent and other times it is pronounced with a 'ff' sound.
From the list below, select the word(s) with a silent 'gh', like the term 'thoroughly'.
The word 'thorough', like many words containing 'gh', is often difficult for non-native speakers to pronounce. Sometimes 'gh' is silent and other times it is pronounced with a 'ff' sound.
From the list below, select the word(s) with a silent 'gh', like the term 'thoroughly'.
This is a correct choice. The term 'borough' has a silent 'gh' and is pronounced with an 'uh' sound. A 'borough' is a division of a city as in New York or London. Example: I live in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea which is found in the centre of London.
This is a correct choice. The term 'through' has a silent 'gh' and is pronounced with an 'oo' sound as in 'shoe' or 'glue'. It refers to passing continuously from one side of something and coming out of the opposite side. Example: The quickest way to the witch's castle is straight through the haunted forest.
This is an incorrect choice. The term 'tough' doesn't have a silent 'gh' but is pronounced with an 'ff' sound as in 'stuff'. It refers to something that is strong, durable or someone that can endure a lot of hardship or pain. 'Laugh', 'enough', 'rough' and 'tough' are all terms ending in 'gh' which have an 'ff' sound.
This is a correct choice. The term 'ought' has a silent 'gh' and rhymes with 'port' in British English, and 'hot' in American English. It refers to having the 'need' or 'obligation' to do something. Example: I really ought to do the washing up before I go to bed but I am too tired.
This is an incorrect choice. The term 'rough' doesn't have a silent 'gh' but is pronounced with an 'ff' sound as in 'stuff'. 'Laugh', 'enough', 'rough' and 'tough' are all terms ending in 'gh' which have an 'ff' sound.
This is an incorrect choice. The term 'laugh' doesn't have a silent 'gh' but is pronounced with an 'ff' sound as in 'giraffe'. 'Laugh', 'enough', 'rough' and 'tough' are all terms ending in 'gh' which have an 'ff' sound.
Exercise 2
Laughter is the best medicine
From the list below, choose the sentences which use the term 'laughter' correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, choose the sentences which use the term 'laughter' correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
Laughter is the best medicine
From the list below, choose the sentences which use the term 'laughter' correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
From the list below, choose the sentences which use the term 'laughter' correctly.
There may be more than one correct answer!
This is incorrect. 'Laughter' is a noun, and cannot replace the verb 'to laugh', which would be more appropriate in this sentence: The joke she told made me LAUGH so hard...
This sentence uses the term 'laughter' correctly. 'Laughter' is a noun which describes the act or sound of 'laughing'. The 'gh' in the word is pronounced with an 'eff' sound, as if the word were spelled 'laffter'. This sentence expresses that one woman's 'laughing' caused everyone else to laugh as well. In this scene, Dr. Loblaw tells Kevin that 'laughter is the best medicine', an adage which expresses that humor and jokes have curative or positive effects on the body and mind!
This sentence uses the term 'laughter' correctly. 'Laughter' is a noun which describes the act or sound of 'laughing'. The 'gh' in this word is pronounced with an 'eff' sound, as if the word were spelled 'laffter'. This sentence expresses that the sound of 'laughing' woke the speaker from her sleep (and dream). In this scene, Dr. Loblaw tells Kevin that 'laughter is the best medicine', an adage which expresses that humor and jokes have curative or positive effects on the body and mind!
The term 'laughter' cannot be used this way. The term 'laughter' is collective, and never takes an 's'. Furthermore, the noun 'laughs' should be used here rather than 'laughter' to express that a group went to the pub to have a good time: We went to the pub for a few laughs...
The noun 'laughter' cannot be used to describe how 'funny' or 'amusing' something is. 'Laughter' is a noun which describes the act or sound of laughing, it cannot be used as an adjective to describe something 'funny'!
'Laughter' cannot be used in this sentence. The noun 'laughter' is rarely preceded by an indefinite article (a laughter), and is generally preceded by a possessive pronoun when describing a person's laughter ('her laughter', 'his laughter'). Finally, it would by far more natural to use the noun 'laugh' in this construction: He has a laugh that reminds me of my mother's.
Exercise 3
Now select the TRUE statements.
There MAY be more than one correct choice!
There MAY be more than one correct choice!
Now select the TRUE statements.
There MAY be more than one correct choice!
There MAY be more than one correct choice!
This is an incorrect choice. Lucy says she is "a movie producer based in LA (=Los Angeles)", therefore she is not a director. A producer is responsible for the financial and administrative aspects of films. A director supervises the creative aspects and instructs the actors and crew.
This statement is true. Susan says: "Diddly Scott?! He's one of my favorite movie directors! I loved his last movie". If she "loved his last movie" it means she has certainly seen it. Note: the terms "movie" and "film" are often used interchangeably in English, however Americans usually only say "movie"!
This is a correct choice. Susan says that Diddly Scott's last film, "Love is Lovely" was a "romantic comedy". Comedies are funny films (with jokes) designed to make you laugh.
This statement is false. There is no indication that Bruno could star (or play a lead role) in the new film.
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks below with key terms from Bruno's email.
When something is very funny or amusing, we . Ha ha ha!
To liberate, set free or discharge something, such as a chemical from the body, we it.
When we want to determine or estimate someone's interest in an idea, we their interest.
If we are unwilling, resistant or not inclined to do something, then we are to do it.
When something is very funny or amusing, we . Ha ha ha!
To liberate, set free or discharge something, such as a chemical from the body, we it.
When we want to determine or estimate someone's interest in an idea, we their interest.
If we are unwilling, resistant or not inclined to do something, then we are to do it.
Fill in the blanks below with key terms from Bruno's email.
When something is very funny or amusing, we laugh 1. Ha ha ha!
To liberate, set free or discharge something, such as a chemical from the body, we release 2 it.
When we want to determine or estimate someone's interest in an idea, we gauge 3 their interest.
If we are unwilling, resistant or not inclined to do something, then we are reluctant 4 to do it.
When something is very funny or amusing, we laugh 1. Ha ha ha!
To liberate, set free or discharge something, such as a chemical from the body, we release 2 it.
When we want to determine or estimate someone's interest in an idea, we gauge 3 their interest.
If we are unwilling, resistant or not inclined to do something, then we are reluctant 4 to do it.
1 laugh: "To laugh" is to express amusement or happiness audibly. Example: I laughed at the funny joke. Note that the "gh" in "laugh" makes an "f" sound, and rhymes with the words "half" and "staff".
2 release: The verb "to release" means to free or to liberate. Bruno uses the term to describe the effect that "laughing" has: when we laugh, endorphins (chemicals) are "released" or discharged, which has positive effects on health.
3 gauge: To "gauge someone's interest" means to "estimate" or measure their interest. Bruno asks Hannah to "gauge her colleague's interest" in a dedicated "laugh time". He wants to know who would be interested in doing this. "To gauge" can refer to literally measuring something (to gauge tire pressure) or figuratively getting a feel for someone's reaction.
4 reluctant: "To be reluctant (to go to work)" is to be reticent, disinclined or not in favor of going to work. Bruno uses this term to explain to Hannah that he doesn't feel inclined to put in place a company-wide nap time.
Exercise 5
Listen to the audio, then fill in the blanks with the missing terms.
Alien: My planet is perfect, except that we don't have . Now, if you can make me , then I can bring Earth back to my planet.
Philip: Well, this be too hard then. Here's one which will make your head explode.
Philip: Well, this be too hard then. Here's one which will make your head explode.
Listen to the audio, then fill in the blanks with the missing terms.
Alien: My planet is perfect, except that we don't have jokes . Now, if you can make me laugh , then I can bring Earth humor back to my planet.
Philip: Well, this shouldn't be too hard then. Here's one which will make your head explode.
Philip: Well, this shouldn't be too hard then. Here's one which will make your head explode.
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