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Glite Dictionary
to make a cat laugh

to make a cat laugh

7.8
To be very funny in a silly way that makes people laugh
  • idiom
  • Archaic
translation icon : 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
476 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
252 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
54 1.0

Cause someone to feel happy or amused

is far stronger and absurd, provoking much bigger amusement
to leave someone in stitches
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
6.0

Make someone laugh a lot so they cannot stop

is even more absurdly amusing in extreme degree
to hit my funny bone
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
8.3

To make someone laugh a lot

is more exaggeratedly funny and absurd in effect
to tickle someone's funny bone
vsto make a cat laugh
  • Informal
6.9

To make someone laugh or feel amused

is more extreme and absurd in causing amusement

Antonyms

boring
721 1.0

Not interesting and making you feel tired or impatient

How Funny

to make a cat laugh
  • Archaic
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'.