not know whether to laugh or cry

not know whether to laugh or (to) cry

To be in an acute state of shock, exasperation, or disbelief due to an unexpected tragic or unfortunate event. When the team lost the championship in the final seconds of the game, we didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. I just found out all of my applications were rejected. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
See also: cry, know, laugh, not
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

not know whether to ˈlaugh or ˈcry

(informal) be unable to decide how to react to a bad or unfortunate situation: Can you believe she said that to me? I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!
See also: cry, know, laugh, not
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • just (one's) luck
  • just my luck
  • just my, his, etc. luck
  • out of (one's) cotton-picking mind
  • almighty
  • manual
References in periodicals archive
OWNER-BREEDER Colin Murfitt did not know whether to laugh or cry after Galileo Gold won the Qipco 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, having last year sold the son of Paco Boy to current owners Al Shaqab Racing for around a tenth of his current value.
Builder who was sitting on a Gold mine but sold star in making
AVRAM GRANT did not know whether to laugh or cry when he found out Portsmouth want to sell more of his stars outside the transfer window.
YOU'RE AVING A LAUGH
I DID not know whether to laugh or cry when I read Cllr Steve Munby's remarks warning that Liverpool faces a "real danger of repeating the mistakes made 40 years ago".
Letter: Past mistakes
DR PHILIP Pritchard did not know whether to laugh or cry when he fell foul of racing's red tape for forgetting his jockey's medical book and was fined pounds 55.
Leicester: Medical blunder for flying doctor
TV commentator Alan Parry will have divided loyalties at Villa Park and will not know whether to laugh or cry after the Cup semi-final.
FOOTBALL: PARRY HAS A SHIRT ON BOTH SIDES