Rolling in the aisles

English translation: something was so funny that people were laughing like crazy...

15:51 Apr 2, 2004

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Linguistics

English term or phrase: Rolling in the aisles

The meaning of this phrase in english.

Harinder Dhillon KudoZ activity Questions: 209 (1 open) Answers: 277
Local time: 08:15

Selected answer:something was so funny that people were laughing like crazy...

Explanation:
... we say falling over laughing... rolling in the aisles basically is laughing so hard that (figuratively) they're falling out of their seats, doubled over with laughter

Selected response from:

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 09:15

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

5 +12

something was so funny that people were laughing like crazy...

Marian Greenfield

4 +9

laughing very hard

NGK

5 +1

laughing uncontrollably ( British English)

mportal

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +12

rolling in the aisles

something was so funny that people were laughing like crazy...

Explanation:
... we say falling over laughing... rolling in the aisles basically is laughing so hard that (figuratively) they're falling out of their seats, doubled over with laughter

Marian Greenfield
Local time: 09:15
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 39

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Hacene

3 mins

agree

NancyLynn

9 mins

agree

DGK T-I

12 mins

agree

Vicky Papaprodromou

15 mins

agree

jccantrell

30 mins

agree

Nancy Arrowsmith: does it have something to do with the Holy Rollers? I'm not sure...

31 mins

-> hmmm, you may well be right... I was thinking maybe because it's common to double over laughing (much like doubling over in pain)....

agree

IrinaGM

45 mins

agree

Laurel Porter (X): you've got it - and no, Nancy, I don't think it's a Holy Roller ref. More like a comedy show in a theater, as Marian indicates. BTW, ever look at yourself laughing? Hard to tell w/o sound if it's hilarity or pain!

1 hr

agree

Alfa Trans (X)

2 hrs

agree

hookmv

1 day 5 hrs

agree

Jörgen Slet

2 days 5 hrs

agree

senin

2 days 5 hrs

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +9

rolling in the aisles laughing very hard

Explanation:
in a theater (said of the audience)

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Note added at 3 mins (2004-04-02 15:55:32 GMT)
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rolling in the aisles: laughing so hard they fall out of their chairs - Robin Williams made us laugh. We were rolling in the aisles.
http://home.t-online.de/home/toni.goeller/idiom_wm/id508.htm

NGK
United States
Local time: 08:15
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 20

20 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

rolling in the aisles laughing uncontrollably ( British English)

Explanation:
the expression means that people laugh so much that they fall over. In a public hall, for example, this would lead to people rolling on the floor in the space between the blocks of seats (aisles).

mportal
Local time: 14:15
Native speaker of: English

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