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Glite Dictionary
to laugh in someone's sleeve

to laugh in someone's sleeve

9.6
To secretly find someone else's mistake funny without showing it
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : burlarse a escondidas de
  • He didn't react, but secretly he was laughing in his sleeve at his rival's blunder.

Examples

  • Although she kept a straight face, she was clearly laughing in her sleeve during the meeting.

  • He often laughs in his sleeve at others' failures.

  • They tried to hide it, but everyone could tell they were laughing in their sleeves at the situation.

  • Don't laugh in her sleeve when she makes a mistake!

  • Despite appearing sympathetic, he was actually laughing in his sleeve at her misfortune.

  • When his opponent slipped during the speech, he couldn't help laughing in his sleeve.

  • She managed to keep a straight face, but inside, she was laughing in her sleeve at his mistakes.

Synonyms

to laugh at
vsto laugh in someone's sleeve
  • Offensive
456 2.0

To make fun of someone in a mean way to show they are silly

is secret and private amusement rather than open or scornful ridicule
to chuckle
vsto laugh in someone's sleeve
237 2.0

To laugh quietly to yourself when something is slightly funny

is more about hidden pleasure at someone else's misfortune rather than mild fun
to snicker
vsto laugh in someone's sleeve
27 4.0

To laugh quietly in a partly hidden way at something rude

is secretive amusement specifically about another's mistake or misfortune
to laugh softly
vsto laugh in someone's sleeve
3 1.9

To make a quiet sound because something is funny so you do not disturb others

is similar but centres on secret enjoyment of another's error
to laugh in one's sleeve
vsto laugh in someone's sleeve
  • Offensive
9.5

Feel secretly pleased and make fun of someone without showing it

is the same but focuses on quiet pleasure at others' misfortune

How Open

laughing
1 1.0
smiling
2 1.0
to chuckle
237 2.0
to titter
3 7.4
to laugh in someone's sleeve
  • Offensive
9.6

Surface Forms

laugh in someone's sleeve infinitive
laughed in someone's sleeve past
laughed in someone's sleeve past participle
laughing in someone's sleeve present participle
laughs in someone's sleeve third person singular

Morphology

laugh + in + someone's + sleeve

There is a clear literal link—putting a laugh "in" a sleeve suggests hiding or suppressing amusement—so a learner who knows 'laugh' and 'sleeve' could plausibly infer a meaning of secret or suppressed laughter. However, the phrase is idiomatic/partly metaphorical (and somewhat dated) with the precise nuance of taking quiet pleasure in someone else's mistake not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The idiom laugh in someone's sleeve comes from the image of a person covering their mouth with a sleeve to hide a laugh. So, it now means 'to be quietly amused' or 'to secretly enjoy someone else's mistake'.