Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

make a cat laugh

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.40 in modern English

Syllables: make a -cat laugh
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be extremely funny.

Example Sentences

"The only play I know of that has ever established a trademark is "Charlie's Aunt." Perhaps some of you recall "Charlie's Aunt." Before that play was produced in New York City the only printed commentary was "it makes a cat laugh.""
"All the bowing and scraping was enough to make a cat laugh, but the Princess took it all in her stride — her demeanour commonsensical (didn't everyone who went by train get this sort of treatment?) and a shade demure."
"It would have made a cat laugh to see the prof's face."
"Carr added that he had never seen "another who provoked so much mirth, and who entered into rollicking fun with such glee. He could make a cat laugh.”"

Etymology

Coined in 1893 as part of the advertising for the Broadway production of the play Charlie's Aunt, ("it makes a cat laugh") based on the observation that cats do not laugh.

Inflected Forms

makes a cat laugh (present, singular) making a cat laugh (participle, present) made a cat laugh (participle, past) made a cat laugh (past)

Questions

What does make a cat laugh mean?: To be extremely funny.
Where does make a cat laugh come from?: Coined in 1893 as part of the advertising for the Broadway production of the play Charlie's Aunt, ("it makes a cat laugh") based on the observation that cats do not laugh.

How to pronounce make a cat laugh

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