laugh away
B2Informal, primarily spoken and literary.
Definition
Meaning
to respond to something serious or negative by laughing, often in an attempt to dismiss or minimize it.
1. To try to dispel an unpleasant feeling, situation, or criticism through laughter or jokes. 2. To spend time in a relaxed, enjoyable manner by laughing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a phrasal verb with an idiomatic meaning. The object is typically an abstract concern (e.g., fear, embarrassment, criticism). It implies an intentional, often defensive, act of using humour as a coping mechanism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. 'Laugh off' is a more frequent synonym in both varieties.
Connotations
Both carry the same connotations of deflection or attempted dismissal.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, but overall low frequency in both. 'Laugh off' is the dominant form.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + laugh away + [Noun Phrase/Object] (e.g., He laughed away her concerns).[Subject] + laugh away + the + [Noun] (e.g., They laughed away the afternoon).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “laugh something out of court”
- “a laughing matter”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in informal contexts: 'He tried to laugh away the poor quarterly results, but investors weren't amused.'
Academic
Very rare. Not typical in formal academic prose.
Everyday
Most common. Used in conversational narratives about handling embarrassment or worry.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She managed to laugh away her nerves before the speech.
- They just laughed away the awkward comment.
American English
- He laughed away the insult like it was nothing.
- We laughed away our fears watching the comedy.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He laughed away his mistake so no one would notice he was embarrassed.
- Despite the sharp criticism, the politician tried to laugh away the reporter's questions.
- We laughed away the rainy afternoon with old stories.
- Her ability to laugh away personal attacks was a formidable defensive strategy.
- They laughed away the underlying tension, pretending the argument had never happened.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of worries as clouds. When you LAUGH AWAY your fears, your laughter is like a strong wind blowing those clouds away.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMBARRASSMENT/PAIN IS AN OBJECT THAT CAN BE DISPLACED. (You move it 'away' with laughter.)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from phrases like "смеяться далеко".
- Do not confuse with "прогнать смехом", which is closer but not identical.
- It does not mean simply 'to laugh for a long time' (смеяться долго).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for positive objects (*'laugh away a good joke').
- Confusing it with 'laugh out loud'.
- Incorrect word order: *'laugh it away her fears'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of 'laugh away'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can say 'laugh his fears away' or 'laugh away his fears'.
They are largely synonymous, but 'laugh off' is more common and can sound slightly more natural in many contexts.
Typically no. Its core meaning involves dealing with something negative. For a positive, extended period of laughter, phrases like 'we laughed the night away' are possible but idiomatic.
It is informal. In formal writing, synonyms like 'dismiss with humour' or 'make light of' are preferred.