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.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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!Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
References in periodicals archive
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.
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".
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.
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.
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