laugh off

Related to laugh off: laugh off the stage

laugh off

1. To dismiss something as insignificant by literally laughing at it or treating it casually. A noun or pronoun can be used between "laugh" and "off." I did fall on the ice, but it didn't ruin my day—I was able to laugh it off.
2. To pressure someone to leave a stage or other such area by laughing at them derisively. What if I forget all the words to the song? What if I get laughed off the stage?
See also: laugh, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

laugh something off

to treat a serious problem lightly by laughing at it. Although his feelings were hurt, he just laughed the incident off as if nothing had happened. He laughed off the incident.
See also: laugh, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

laugh off

Also, laugh away. Dismiss as ridiculous or trivial, as in He laughed off the suggestion that his career was over. [Early 1700s]
See also: laugh, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

laugh off

or laugh away
v.
1. To dismiss something or someone as ridiculous or laughable: She laughed off the critic's conclusion that the show was a flop. The landlord wanted more money, but I laughed him away.
2. To force someone to leave some area because of laughter or ridicule: The audience laughed the singer off the stage. The other team laughed us away from the field.
See also: laugh, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • piece out
  • involve with
  • involve with (someone or something)
  • involved with
  • arrange for
  • arrange for some time
  • arrange some music for
  • back into
  • back into (someone or something)
  • add in
References in periodicals archive
But since we all know him as George Michael, he's been allowed to laugh off his public toilet antics.
Eamonn Holmes Column: COP OUT TO WRIT A WRONG, BY GEORGE
However it seems the two have decided to laugh off the phone blunder.
Football: QUINN'S REVERSE CHARGE CALL; Celts chief laughs off wrong number
The Tory leader has attempted to laugh off his family ties to the Romanian region that inspired Dracula.
Come home to us, Drac
Vieira is quite happy to take the plaudits when they fly his way but obviously not too keen on a little bit of stick that even sensitive schoolboy players manage to laugh off. When Sir Bobby Robson arrived at Newcastle he told the very experienced Alan Shearer a couple of things he was doing wrong.
Mirror Sports Letters: PAT'S ENOUGH OF LOYAL TALK
But to laugh off reports that rumours about his impending marriage are a joke and "amazing'' was demeaning to girlfriend Nancy Dell'Olio, and ungallant.
Sue Carroll: Sven Goran Eriksson
Ministers are under strict orders not to discuss the shake-up and Mr Byers later tried to laugh off the error as a joke.
Byers slip hits Blair