English idiom

laughing stock

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

a person or thing that others openly mock or ridicule

Word picture

The target of ridicule is pictured as an object set in front of a crowd for everyone to laugh at.

Example

“The faulty demonstration made the company a laughing stock at the trade fair.”

Dictionary details

Component words

stock

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

cut loose

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

go bananas

to become wildly excited, angry, or otherwise out of control

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

keep a low profile

to avoid notice or publicity by behaving discreetly

live and let live

to accept other people's choices without trying to control them

live it up

to celebrate or indulge freely, usually by spending more than usual

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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