laugh it off

USAGE SUMMARY

"laugh it off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of not taking a situation too seriously, or to show that you are dealing with a situation by trying to see the humorous side. For example, "My date didn't show up, but I just laughed it off and had some dinner by myself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Laugh it off, man.

The Guardian

"He can't laugh it off.

The Washington Post

I expected her to laugh it off.

The New York Times

"I tried to laugh it off.

The New Yorker

"Just laugh it off," Mr. Hanson said.

The New York Times

They laugh it off and go again.

The New Yorker

Most supervisors laugh it off".

The New York Times

They might struggle to laugh it off.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now I just laugh it off.

The Guardian - Opinion

Laugh it off, deal with it.

The Guardian

He's tried to laugh it off.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "laugh it off" when you want to convey resilience and a positive attitude in the face of minor setbacks or embarrassing moments.

Common error

Avoid using "laugh it off" when dealing with serious issues or traumatic events. It can come across as dismissive and insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "laugh it off" functions as an idiomatic expression. It indicates a way of responding to an event, typically a mistake or embarrassing situation, by treating it lightly and finding humor in it, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

32%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "laugh it off" is a common and correct idiomatic expression used to describe the act of responding to a mistake or embarrassment by treating it lightly and finding humor in it. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki contexts. While generally neutral to informal, it should be avoided in very formal or serious situations. Related phrases include "brush it aside" and "shrug it off".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shrug it off

Suggests indifference or a lack of concern about a situation.

brush it aside

Indicates a quick dismissal of something, often implying it's not worth serious consideration.

make light of it

Emphasizes finding humor in a situation to reduce its seriousness.

downplay it

Suggests minimizing the significance of something.

dismiss it

Implies a rejection of something as unimportant or irrelevant.

take it in stride

Indicates handling a situation calmly and without being overly affected.

let it go

Suggests releasing negative feelings or concerns about a situation.

not sweat it

An informal way of saying not to worry about something.

pass it over

Means to ignore or disregard something.

minimize it

To reduce something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "laugh it off" in a sentence?

You can use "laugh it off" when describing how someone handles a minor mistake or embarrassing situation. For example, "He spilled coffee on his shirt, but he just "laughed it off" and kept going."

What does it mean to "laugh it off"?

To "laugh it off" means to respond to a mistake, embarrassment, or setback by treating it as humorous or insignificant, rather than getting upset or dwelling on it.

What's a more formal way to say "laugh it off"?

While "laugh it off" is generally informal, a more formal alternative could be to say someone "took it in stride" or "minimized the situation".

When is it inappropriate to tell someone to "laugh it off"?

It's inappropriate to tell someone to "laugh it off" when they're dealing with a serious problem, personal loss, or any situation that warrants a sensitive response. In such cases, it can invalidate their feelings.