laughing jackass
LowInformal, Colloquial
Definition
Meaning
A colloquial name for the kookaburra, a large Australian kingfisher known for its distinctive call that sounds like loud, raucous laughter.
Informally, can refer to a person who laughs loudly and obnoxiously, or to something/someone considered ridiculous or laughable.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily zoological/ornithological in its literal sense. The extended, figurative use is pejorative and often humorous.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is more likely to be recognized in British English due to historical colonial connections with Australia. In American English, it is a very rare term, mostly encountered in nature documentaries or specific contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the literal meaning carries neutral/positive associations with the bird. The figurative use is negative.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. Higher recognition in the UK, but still uncommon.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [laughing jackass] [verb: calls, laughs, sounds].We heard a [laughing jackass].He laughed like a [laughing jackass].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To laugh like a jackass (variant: more common than the full phrase 'laughing jackass')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in specific zoological or ornithological contexts.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used humorously or descriptively when referring to the bird or a very loud laugh.
Technical
An informal common name in zoology for Dacelo novaeguineae.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bird began laughing jackass-like at dawn.
- He was laughing jackassly all through the film.
American English
- The kookaburra started laughing like a jackass at sunrise.
- She was laughing in a real jackass manner.
adverb
British English
- He chuckled laughing-jackassly.
- The hyena cackled laughing-jackassly.
American English
- She laughed laughing-jackass loud.
- The audience howled laughing-jackass style.
adjective
British English
- We were kept awake by a laughing-jackass cacophony.
- He has a rather laughing-jackass sense of humour.
American English
- The campsite was noisy with laughing-jackass calls.
- It was a laughing-jackass kind of joke.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The laughing jackass is a bird from Australia.
- It makes a funny sound.
- We heard the call of the laughing jackass in the forest.
- The bird is called a laughing jackass because its call sounds like laughter.
- The raucous cry of the laughing jackass echoed through the gum trees at first light.
- After his third pint, his laugh became a proper laughing jackass cackle.
- The zoologist distinguished the territorial call of the laughing jackass from other avian sounds in the recording.
- His proposal was met with a reaction not unlike the derisive chorus of a flock of laughing jackasses.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a donkey (jackass) wearing a comedy mask and laughing hysterically in the Australian outback. This combines 'jackass' with the 'laughing' sound of the kookaburra.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS AN ANIMAL (when loud and foolish). A SOUND IS LAUGHTER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'jackass' literally as 'осёл' (donkey) when referring to the bird; it is a fixed name. The phrase is a unit.
- The figurative meaning is not a standard idiom in Russian; a direct translation would sound very odd and be misunderstood.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general insult without the 'laughing' context (a simple 'jackass' is more common for a fool).
- Capitalising it as a proper name (it is not standard).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'laughing jackass' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a colloquial name for the kookaburra, a type of kingfisher bird native to Australia and New Guinea.
Yes, if used figuratively for a person. It implies they are loud, foolish, and their laughter is annoying or ridiculous. It is a pejorative term.
'Jackass' alone is a common insult for a stupid person. 'Laughing jackass' specifically refers to the bird or, when applied to a person, emphasizes their loud, raucous, and foolish laughter.
Only in very specific contexts, like informal zoological notes. The standard scientific or formal term is 'kookaburra' (specifically the 'laughing kookaburra', Dacelo novaeguineae).