in stitches

Idioms  

1. Laughing uncontrollably, as in Joke after joke had me in stitches. Although the precise idiom dates only from about 1930, Shakespeare had a similar expression in Twelfth Night (3:2): “If you desire the spleen, and will laugh yourselves into stitches, follow me.” Stitches here refers to the sharp local pain (known as a stitch in the side) that can make one double over, much as a fit of laughter can.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in stitches

A popular Turkish comedian went on trial on Monday for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other offences during a stand-up performance, offering a quick-witted defence that had much of the courtroom in stitches.

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

All of that set the stage for Barkley’s diatribe, which had the ex-Laker O’Neal in stitches by the midway point.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 7, 2025

"Every time I see it I'm just in stitches," she says.

From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025

Then we're the ones who miss out when we don't wait, because Phoebe was the one who had everybody in stitches every day.

From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2024

He had the crowd in stitches even though he was telling the story of how his whole town had been slowly swallowed by the sea.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz