Laugh out of the other side of your mouth Meaning in English

expression

US

LAF owt uhv THUH UTH-er SYDE uhv YOR MOWTH

UK

LARF owt ov THUH UTH-uh SYDE ov YAW MOWTH

Definition

This expression means that someone who is laughing or feeling confident now will soon be embarrassed, upset, or humbled because of a change of circumstances.

Usage & Nuances

This is a British English idiom, sometimes also used in American English. It predicts that someone's arrogance or joy will not last. Often used as a warning or a prediction after seeing someone's over-confidence. Typically negative or slightly threatening tone.

• Spanish: reírse por el otro lado de la boca
• Portuguese (BR): rir com a outra parte da boca
• Portuguese (PT): rir com o outro lado da boca
• Chinese (Simplified): 笑不出来（事情反转时）
• Chinese (Traditional): 笑不出来（事情反轉時）
• Hindi: अब हँसी नहीं रहेगी
• Arabic: سيضحك الضحكة من الجانب الآخر لفمه
• Bengali: আর হাসবে না (পরিস্থিতি বদলালে)
• Russian: улыбаться по-другому (после перемены ситуации)
• Japanese: 態度が一変して困る
• Vietnamese: cười không nổi nữa
• Korean: 반대로 웃다 (상황이 바뀌어서)
• Turkish: gülmekten ağlamak (tersine dönmek)
• Urdu: اب وہ ہنس نہیں پائے گا
• Indonesian: tertawa di sisi lain mulutmu (situasi berubah menjadi buruk)

Example Sentences

If you keep bragging, you'll soon laugh out of the other side of your mouth.

basic

He was making fun of us, but soon he had to laugh out of the other side of his mouth.

basic

She will laugh out of the other side of her mouth when she sees the test results.

basic

You might be smiling now, but you'll laugh out of the other side of your mouth when things change.

natural

After he lost his job, he definitely started to laugh out of the other side of his mouth.

natural

Just wait—he'll soon laugh out of the other side of his mouth when he sees how hard it is.

natural