have a laugh

Meaning

To enjoy oneself, find something funny, or joke around. In British and Australian English, it can also be used sarcastically to mean someone is being ridiculous or unreasonable.

Examples

• We went to the comedy club last night just to have a laugh.

  We went to the comedy club last night just to have a laugh.

• Don't take him too seriously; he's just having a laugh.

  Don't take him too seriously; he's just having a laugh.

• Are you having a laugh? There's no way I'm paying that much for a coffee!

  Are you having a laugh? There's no way I'm paying that much for a coffee!

• It's important to be able to have a laugh at yourself sometimes.

  It's important to be able to have a laugh at yourself sometimes.

• We had a good laugh about my embarrassing mistake later on.

  We had a good laugh about my embarrassing mistake later on.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We had a big laugh yesterday.

  ✓ We had a good laugh yesterday.

  Use 'good laugh' or 'great laugh' rather than 'big laugh' when describing a fun time.

• ✗ Are you making a laugh?

  ✓ Are you having a laugh?

  The correct idiom uses the verb 'have', not 'make', especially when asking if someone is joking.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The movie wasn't amazing, but we still managed to ___.

  💡 Enjoy ourselves and find things funny.

  Show answer

  have a laugh

• You want me to work on Sunday for free? You must be ___!

  💡 Joking or being ridiculous (present continuous).

  Show answer

  having a laugh