laugh up your sleeve
laugh up (one's) sleeve
1. To try to hide that one is laughing at someone else. Ron may seem like a nice guy, but he laughs up his sleeve whenever he's around someone he dislikes. The popular kids laugh up their sleeves every time I walk by—it's so infuriating.
2. To rejoice or be amused secretly and contemptuously, as at another's mistakes or misfortunes. Though they are feigning sympathy, I'm sure my colleagues are all laughing up their sleeves at me for being chewed out by the boss. I know it is mean spirited, but I cannot help but laugh up my sleeve when I see someone slip on the icy streets.
See also: laugh, sleeve, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
laugh up your sleeve
be secretly or inwardly amused.The use of up in this expression is a relatively recent development; the phrase dates from the mid 16th century in the form laugh in your sleeve .
See also: laugh, sleeve, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
laugh up your ˈsleeve (at somebody/something)
(informal) be secretly amused by something: Only he knew the whole story about the money. He must have been laughing up his sleeve all along.See also: laugh, sleeve, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- accompany (one) on a/(one's) journey
- accompany on a journey
- a stranger to (someone or something)
- be out of (one's) league
- be out of somebody's league
- be in bad with (someone)
- (one) puts (one's) pants on one leg at a time
- (one's) heart goes out to (someone)
- bargain
- bargain for (someone or something) with (someone)