laugh off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: * To dismiss or minimize something serious, embarrassing, or negative by treating it with laughter or humor; to act as if a problem, criticism, or awkward situation is not important by making a joke of it.
Usage
This phrasal verb is used when someone responds to a difficulty, insult, or mistake not with anger or concern, but with laughter, suggesting it does not bother them or is unimportant. It often implies resilience or an attempt to save face.
Examples
- Verb:
- When they criticized his idea, he just laughed it off and continued with his presentation.
- She tripped on stage but managed to laugh off the embarrassment.
- You can't just laugh off feedback from your boss; you should take it seriously.
Advanced Usage
- "to laugh something off": The object (the problem or criticism) can be placed between "laugh" and "off." When using a pronoun (it, them), it go in this position.
- Correct: He laughed the comment off. / He laughed it off.
- Less common: He laughed off the comment.
Variants and Related Words
- Brush off (phrasal verb): To dismiss or ignore someone or something casually.
- He brushed off their concerns.
- Shrug off (phrasal verb): To treat something as unimportant or easy to handle.
- She shrugged off the injury and kept playing.
Synonyms
- Dismiss with laughter
- Make light of
- Joke away
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Laugh away: A less common variant with a very similar meaning to "laugh off."
- She tried to laugh away her nerves before the speech.
Verb
- deal with a problem by laughing or pretending to be amused by it
- She laughs away all these problems