dry laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dry laughter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a type of laughter that is subdued, restrained, or lacking in genuine amusement, often in response to something ironic or absurd. Example: "His joke fell flat, and the audience responded with dry laughter, realizing the absurdity of the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Clark may have been making a donnish jest — you can almost hear the dry laughter in the lecture hall — but he was also on to something real: Warburg's engrams of energy are now more often pop than not.

The New Yorker

This was unusual: in our conversations, she tended to be evidence-oriented and almost brusque; her hands busily sketched out arguments in the air, and her laments were accompanied by dry laughter.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

This year's demonic and destabilising show sends audiences out into the night wrung dry of laughter and looking shellshocked.

The Guardian

" That lady, she's broke and bald!" the fat acolyte said, eliciting from Monsieur Etienne and the thin acolyte choking squawks of dried-out laughter.

Vice

Accidentally, the bioform wipes everyone out, except for Jimmy, Crake's humanoid tribe, and the animals.All of this is done on a roll of dry, black, parodic laughter.

The Economist

Oh, how the laughter dried in our throats.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Perhaps our bigger problem is that all laughter dries in the throat.

The Guardian - Books

You may still want to hold onto that box of Kleenex, but this time you'll be drying tears of laughter.

Huffington Post

Dry humour raises brittle laughter.

The Guardian

Laughter has to dry the tears.

The Guardian - Film

"You're a real idiot," she told him, as she dried the tears from her laughter.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dry laughter" to convey a sense of irony, sarcasm, or understated amusement in your writing. It is effective when depicting characters responding to absurd or subtly humorous situations.

Common error

Avoid using "dry laughter" when describing genuine joy or amusement. The phrase implies a lack of enthusiasm or a cynical perspective. If the laughter is heartfelt, use terms like "hearty laughter" or "spontaneous laughter" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dry laughter" functions as a descriptive noun phrase, modifying the noun "laughter" with the adjective "dry". As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a type of laughter that is subdued or lacking genuine amusement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dry laughter" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a specific type of laughter lacking genuine amusement, often prompted by irony or absurdity. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's more common in neutral to formal contexts like news and media. While alternatives such as "sarcastic chuckle" or "ironic amusement" exist, "dry laughter" provides a distinct tone that writers can effectively use to convey nuanced emotions and reactions in their narratives or analyses. Ensure not to mistake it for genuine expressions of joy, which require different descriptive terms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sarcastic chuckle

Replaces "laughter" with a more specific type of chuckle and implies a sarcastic tone.

ironic amusement

Focuses on the sense of amusement derived from irony rather than outright laughter.

forced chuckle

Suggests the laughter is not genuine or spontaneous.

restrained mirth

Indicates suppressed or controlled amusement.

subdued giggles

Replaces laughter with giggles to indicate a quiet, stifled reaction.

humorless chuckle

Emphasizes the lack of genuine humor in the laughter.

bitter chuckle

Adds a layer of resentment or disappointment to the laughter.

unenthusiastic laugh

Directly indicates a lack of enthusiasm in the laughter.

hollow amusement

Suggests the amusement is superficial or empty.

smothered laughter

Indicates that the laughter is being suppressed or hidden.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "dry laughter" in a sentence?

Use "dry laughter" to depict a character's reaction to an ironic, absurd, or subtly humorous situation where genuine amusement is lacking. For example: "His joke fell flat, and the audience responded with "dry laughter", realizing the absurdity of the situation."

What's the difference between "dry laughter" and a regular laugh?

"Dry laughter" suggests a lack of genuine amusement or enthusiasm, often in response to something ironic or absurd. A regular laugh implies genuine joy or amusement.

What are some alternatives to "dry laughter"?

You can use alternatives like "sarcastic chuckle", "ironic amusement", or "forced chuckle" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "dry laughter" appropriate for formal writing?

Yes, "dry laughter" is appropriate for formal writing when you need to describe a subdued, restrained, or cynical reaction to a situation.