not be a barrel of laughs

not be a barrel of laughs

To not be fun, funny, or entertaining; to be overly serious or boring. A: "Is Mr. Grant always cranky?" B: "Yeah, he's not a barrel of laughs or anything, but he's a really good teacher all the same." Working here won't be a barrel of laughs, you know. You'll have some really serious responsibilities!

See also: barrel, laugh, not, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

not be a barrel of laughs

If you say that someone or something is not a barrel of laughs, you mean that they are boring, too serious, or not enjoyable. John's personal life hasn't always been a barrel of laughs. The habit of constant self-control has taken its toll; Weddington is the first to admit she's not exactly a barrel of laughs. Note: Sometimes people say that someone or something is a barrel of laughs to mean that they are fun or enjoyable, but this expression is more often used humorously to really mean the opposite. `We spent the day at the War Museum.' — `That sounds a barrel of laughs.'

See also: barrel, laugh, not, of

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012