be laughed out of court

be laughed out of court

To be rejected as outrageous or absurd. Despite the phrasing, this expression does not usually refer to an actual legal case. You'll be laughed out of court if you approach the board with an idea like that!
See also: court, laugh, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be laughed out of court

If you or your ideas are laughed out of court, people dismiss your ideas and do not take you seriously. Only two decades ago the idea of an Equal Opportunities Commission championing the rights of women would have been laughed out of court. Back in May 2002, this proposal was laughed out of court. Note: A plaintiff (= person who brings a legal case against someone else) who is `out of court' has lost the right to be heard in a court of law.
See also: court, laugh, of, out
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • laugh (someone or something) out of court
  • laugh out of court
  • laugh somebody/something out of court
  • laugh someone or something out of court
  • get the stick
  • cockamamie
  • court
  • You'll never get away with it
  • cockamamie story
  • be (all) of a piece
References in periodicals archive
When the FFT try to block betting on the French Open I expect them to be laughed out of court, just like I am every time I play the game.
RESULT!: Tennis snobs will rue day in court