tears of laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

"tears of laughter" is a commonly used phrase in written English, especially in descriptions of funny situations or moments when someone is laughing uncontrollably.
Example: As the comedian delivered her punchline, the entire audience erupted in tears of laughter, their bodies shaking with mirth.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tears of laughter, you understand.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Tears of laughter and tears of sadness in equal measure.

The Guardian

I spent the whole time suppressing tears of laughter.

The Guardian

When Mooney took off his shirt there was no stopping Gosling's tears of laughter.

Independent

Tears of laughter filling his eyes, Mayer told me Shankar's look spoke volumes.

The Guardian

The tears of laughter in his eyes made additional spokes and wheels and rainbows.

The Guardian - Books

Perhaps an in-joke shared with a man said to reduce tourists to "tears of laughter".

The Guardian - Travel

I've seen grown men reduced to tears of laughter by Frog and Toad's confusions.

The Guardian

Sagel's story is written with a dark and biting humor that evokes tears of laughter and stings of recognition.

Stanford University

"He just had me in tears of laughter". This sort of twist is Macdonald's stock-in-trade.

The Guardian - Music

Children cry all kinds of tears - of laughter, boredom, anger and pain - and they are all different.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "tears of laughter" to vividly describe a moment of extreme amusement. It conveys a stronger emotional response than simply saying someone laughed.

Common error

Avoid using "tears of laughter" for mild amusement. This phrase indicates a strong, almost uncontrollable, reaction. If the situation is only mildly funny, opt for a less dramatic description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tears of laughter" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object of a verb or preposition to describe a physical manifestation of intense amusement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is frequently used in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "tears of laughter" is a common noun phrase used to describe intense amusement. Ludwig AI validates that it is frequently found across various contexts, most notably in News & Media and Academia. The phrase effectively conveys a strong emotional response to humor, indicating that something was extremely funny. While generally neutral in register, its usage should align with the overall tone of the writing. When using "tears of laughter", consider the intensity of the situation to avoid overstatement, and be mindful of the diverse ways you can express the same sentiment using alternatives like "crying with laughter" or "laughing hysterically".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

crying with laughter

Focuses more on the physical act of crying, specifying laughter as the cause.

laughing hysterically

Emphasizes the uncontrolled nature of the laughter.

bursting with laughter

Highlights the sudden and intense onset of laughter.

overcome with mirth

Emphasizes the feeling of joy and amusement.

shrieking with amusement

Conveys a loud and unrestrained expression of joy.

dissolved in giggles

Highlights the loss of control due to laughter.

in stitches

An idiom indicating extreme amusement.

rolling on the floor laughing

Describes a physical reaction to intense humor.

howling with laughter

Emphasizes the loud and unrestrained nature of the laughter.

guffawing uncontrollably

Highlights the boisterous and unrestrained nature of laughter.

FAQs

How can I use "tears of laughter" in a sentence?

You can use "tears of laughter" to describe a situation where someone is laughing so hard that they are crying. For example, "The comedian's jokes had the audience in "tears of laughter"".

What's the difference between ""tears of laughter"" and "crying"?

"Tears of laughter" specifically refers to crying due to extreme amusement, while "crying" can refer to sadness, pain, or other emotions.

What can I say instead of ""tears of laughter""?

You can use alternatives like "crying with laughter", "laughing hysterically", or "overcome with mirth" depending on the context.

Is ""tears of laughter"" appropriate in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider the tone of your writing. In highly formal contexts, a more restrained description of amusement might be preferable. However, in many cases, it is perfectly suitable.