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Glite Dictionary
to make a cat laugh

to make a cat laugh

1 7.8
To be very funny in a silly way that makes people laugh
  • idiom
  • Archaic
: hacer reír a carcajadas
  • That joke was so ridiculous it could make a cat laugh.

Examples

  • Some of these comedy films are enough to make a cat laugh.

  • His silly antics always make a cat laugh.

  • Her silly dance moves would make a cat laugh.

  • That joke will make a cat laugh!

  • The comedian's outrageous puns will definitely make a cat laugh.

  • The hilarious skit on stage could make a cat laugh without a doubt.

  • Her antics during the party were so funny, they made a cat laugh.

Synonyms

to joke
vsto make a cat laugh
530 1.0

To say or do something to make people laugh

is more extremely absurd and causes greater amusement
to make someone laugh
vsto make a cat laugh
268 1.0

Cause someone to feel amused by saying or doing something funny

is funnier, implying absurdity beyond normal amusement
to make someone smile
vsto make a cat laugh
85 1.0

Cause someone to feel happy or amused

is far stronger and absurd, provoking much bigger amusement
to tickle someone's funny bone
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
1 6.9

To make someone laugh or feel amused

is more extreme and absurd in causing amusement
to hit my funny bone
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
1 8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

is more exaggeratedly funny and absurd in effect
to leave someone in stitches
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
1 6.0

Make someone laugh a lot so they cannot stop

is even more absurdly amusing in extreme degree

Antonyms

boring
792 1.0

Not interesting and making you feel tired or impatient

How Funny

to make a cat laugh
  • Archaic
1 7.8

Surface Forms

make a cat laugh infinitive
made a cat laugh past
made a cat laugh past participle
making a cat laugh present participle
makes a cat laugh third person singular

Morphology

make + a + cat + laugh

The literal composition 'make' + 'a' + 'cat' + 'laugh' yields 'cause a cat to laugh', so a learner can see the surface meaning, but the intended use is hyperbolic/figurative (cats do not laugh) meaning 'extremely funny'. This requires pragmatic/idiomatic inference beyond straightforward compositionality, so a B1 learner who knows the words might guess it's an exaggeration but would not reliably derive the conventional idiomatic force without prior exposure.

Etymology

Make a cat laugh paints a picture of something so funny it would make even a cat laugh. Because cats were seen as quiet and not easily amused, saying you could make a cat laugh means 'very funny' or 'extremely amusing'.