Shake with Laughter, To
To be convulsed with amusement. This sort of shaking is much more violent than trembling with fear or cold, causing one to “hold one’s sides,” i.e., to double over. John Milton used the image in L’Allegro (ca. 1635): “Laughter holding both his sides.” See also split one’s sides.
Related Idioms:
- Split one’s sides: To laugh immensely; often leading to physical discomfort.
- Have a laugh attack: Engaging in uncontrollable and sudden laughter.
- Burst out laughing: Laughing loudly and suddenly, usually in response to something unexpected.
- Die laughing: An exaggeration of laughing extremely hard.
Synonyms:
- Roaring with laughter
- Rolling on the floor laughing
- Cracking up
- Busting a gut
Antonyms:
- Straight-faced
- Poker-faced
- Unamused
Humorous Quotes:
- “Laughter is the best medicine—a real mood-lifter without a prescription!” - W. T. Wittywords
- “I have this deep, throaty laugh that hits me when I’m most amused—I call it my ’laughquake’!” - Imogen Hilarity
Proverbs:
- “Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.” - Victor Hugo
- “A day without laughter is a day wasted.” - Charlie Chaplin
References in Literature:
- L’Allegro by John Milton (ca. 1635) - “Laughter holding both his sides.”
Suggestions for Related Works:
- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A play filled with wit and humor.
- A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole - A novel that will leave you shaking with laughter.
- Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare - An early farce that reliably generates giggles.
Movies to Watch:
- Airplane! - A classic slapstick comedy that will have you “shaking with laughter.”
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail - Timeless humor and absurdity.
- Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy - A modern comedy that will keep you in stitches.
Songs to Listen:
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Monty Python – Perfect for lifting your spirits.
- Happy by Pharrell Williams – Sure to make you dance and laugh!
Poetry to Enjoy:
- The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear – playful and whimsical.
- Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll – Wordplay that will leave you chuckling.
### Which of these phrases means to laugh uncontrollably?
- [x] Shake with laughter
- [ ] Cry over spilled milk
- [ ] Sing for one's supper
- [ ] Jump through hoops
> **Explanation:** "Shake with laughter" means to laugh so hard that you're trembling with amusement. The other phrases refer to different scenarios altogether, none of which are directly related to humor.
### Which of these is not an idiom for uncontrollable laughter?
- [ ] Burst out laughing
- [x] Cry a river
- [ ] Split one's sides
- [ ] Die laughing
> **Explanation:** "Cry a river" refers to shedding a lot of tears, which is quite the opposite of laughing uncontrollably.
### True or False: "Laughter is the best medicine" is a proverb.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! This is a well-known proverb implying that laughter has therapeutic effects on the human soul.
### Which historical author used the imagery of shaking with laughter?
- [ ] Mark Twain
- [x] John Milton
- [ ] William Wordsworth
- [ ] Edgar Allan Poe
> **Explanation:** John Milton used this imagery in *L'Allegro*, written around 1635.
### Which movie is known to induce 'shaking with laughter'?
- [x] Airplane!
- [ ] Schindler’s List
- [ ] The Godfather
- [ ] The Shawshank Redemption
> **Explanation:** *Airplane!* is a slapstick comedy that will have you shaking with laughter, while the other movies, though classics, are not comedies.
Thank you for diving deep into the whimsical world of laughter and idioms with Chuck L. UpLoL. As we part, remember: “A laugh is a smile that bursts!” Keep laughing and may humor always be your faithful companion.
