fall about
phr. v..phr. v.. to laugh a lot because you find something extremely funny.
phr. v.. to laugh uncontrollably or excessively; typically used in British English and often followed by the preposition 'laughing'.
We all fell about when he told that joke.
The audience fell about laughing as the comedian struggled to keep a straight face during the sketch.
The entire room fell about at the sheer absurdity of the situation, unable to maintain any semblance of professional decorum.
- Particles
- about
- Separability
- inseparable
- Pattern
- fall + about
primarily British English; often used in the pattern 'fall about laughing'.
contrast with 'crack up' or 'burst out laughing'; note that 'fall about' implies a physical loss of control, as if one is literally falling over from laughter.
They fell about for the joke.They fell about at the joke.the preposition 'at' or 'laughing' usually follows the phrase to indicate the cause of the laughter.