split one's sides

1. Also, laugh one's head off. Be extremely amused, laugh uproariously. For example, That comedian had us splitting our sides, or Jane laughed her head off when she saw Rob's costume. The first of these hyperbolic terms dates from about 1700.

Example Sentences

Split′ting, very severe: very rapid.—Split on a rock, to meet some unforeseen and disastrous difficulty, to go to ruin; Split one's sides, to laugh immoderately; Split the difference, to divide equally the sum or matter in dispute, to take the mean.

From Project Gutenberg

Heidt's friends, too, proved most entertaining company, especially the one who, it appeared, was a poet; he had a store of anecdotes to make one split one's sides with laughing, and Heidt himself was in high spirits.

From Project Gutenberg

The poor little rocking-chair over in the corner was in reality a mere attempt at a rocking-chair; with the smallest sense of humour, one might easily split one's sides with laughter at it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chuckle 
• giggle 
• grin 
• howl 
• roar 
• scream 
• shriek 
• snicker 
• snort 
• whoop