spark laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

"spark laughter" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to refer to something humorous that elicits laughter from people. For example, "His witty comment about current events sparked laughter amongst his friends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Since most of the accents in his design studio are also Southern, and given Mr. Langham's propensity for melodrama and quips that spark laughter, the atmosphere is oddly reminiscent of the sitcom "Designing Women".

The New York Times

That's fine for Ernst Lubitsch, Howard Hawks, Frank Tashlin, and other masters of meticulously calibrated comedy (and their meticulous and inspired screenwriters), because those directors do much more than highlight performance and spark laughter — they are image masters, whose comic inventions have a self-surpassing and self-multiplying symbolic density.

The New Yorker

Someone has to preserve the jokes that no longer spark laughter, the negatives of the photographs never printed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"No," he said, sparking laughter in the interview room.

The New York Times - Sports

"My husband was always Ricky Schroder," she said, sparking laughter all around.

The New York Times

In the dining hall, games to promote team-building, like hot potato, sparked laughter.

The New York Times

"My preferred leg is the one the management wants me to run," he said, sparking laughter from reporters.

The New York Times - Sports

"You have to watch TV for the bodies," came the other worker's quick reply, sparking laughter all around.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Most of the time last year, my high school crowds were bigger than the Cavs' crowds," James said, sparking laughter.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm sure it gave a little boost to his ego tonight, after just sort of nine months with him," Murray said, sparking laughter.

The New York Times - Sports

Madonna's majestic Brit Awards fall sparked laughter, scorn and concern about how her 56-year-old bones could possibly withstand the impact of the 02 Arena floor.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spark laughter" when you want to convey that something subtly or unexpectedly initiates a burst of amusement. It often implies a witty or clever trigger for the laughter.

Common error

Avoid using "spark laughter" in highly formal or academic writing. While grammatically correct, alternatives like "elicit amusement" or "generate mirth" may be more appropriate for such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spark laughter" functions as a verb phrase, where "spark" acts as a transitive verb and "laughter" is the direct object. It describes the action of causing or initiating laughter, aligning with examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spark laughter" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to describe the action of causing laughter. Ludwig identifies it as a verb phrase with neutral register, suitable for news and media, though rarer than alternatives like "cause laughter". While generally correct, it's important to consider the formality of the context and choose more appropriate options for academic or very formal writing. Ludwig provides examples that align well with the phrase's intended meaning, validating its accuracy and usability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

provoke laughter

Emphasizes the act of instigating or eliciting laughter, similar to "spark laughter".

cause laughter

A more direct and general way of saying something creates laughter.

elicit laughter

Highlights the act of drawing out laughter from an audience or individual.

trigger laughter

Suggests a sudden or immediate reaction of laughter.

generate laughter

Focuses on the creation or production of laughter.

inspire laughter

Indicates that something encourages or motivates laughter.

raise laughter

A more formal way of describing how laughter emerges.

stimulate laughter

Suggests an encouragement or incitement of laughter.

bring about laughter

Indicates the act of creating laughter as a result.

set off laughter

Describes initiating laughter, often suddenly or unexpectedly.

FAQs

What does "spark laughter" mean?

"Spark laughter" means to cause or initiate laughter, often in a sudden or unexpected way. It suggests something witty or humorous triggers amusement.

What can I say instead of "spark laughter"?

You can use alternatives like "provoke laughter", "cause laughter", or "elicit laughter" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How formal is the phrase "spark laughter"?

"Spark laughter" is generally suitable for neutral to slightly informal contexts. For more formal situations, consider alternatives like "elicit amusement".

Is it correct to say "sparked laughter" or "sparking laughter"?

Yes, "sparked laughter" is the past tense form, and "sparking laughter" is the present participle form. Both are grammatically correct and can be used depending on the tense required in the sentence.