aisle

cross the aisle

1. Of politicians, to unite or cooperate—especially through voting—with an opposing political party or members thereof, so as to achieve some political goal or purpose. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. With just enough Republicans crossing the aisle, the Democrats were able to pass the bill through both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If reform of any kind is going to come about in this lifetime, it will take some strong-willed individuals willing to cross the aisle.

2. Of parliamentary members, to leave one's current political party and join another, such that one's legislative seat is physically moved to the new party's location in parliament. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. Following the prime minister's controversial tax bill, several members of his party crossed the aisle to the Labour Party.

See also: aisle, cross

laughing in the aisles

Laughing uproariously or hysterically. (Used especially in the phrase "have someone laughing in the aisles.") Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them laughing in the aisles! I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! You're going to be laughing in the aisles when you meet him.

See also: aisle, laugh

have (someone) laughing in the aisles

To cause someone to laugh uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them laughing in the aisles! I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! He had me laughing in the aisles when I met him.

See also: aisle, have, laugh

walk down the aisle

To get married. I still can't believe that Nora and Scott walked down the aisle—I never thought I'd see those two get married!

See also: aisle, down, walk

have (one) rolling in the aisles

To cause an audience to laugh uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them rolling in the aisles!

See also: aisle, have, roll

rolling in the aisles

Laughing uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them rolling in the aisles!

See also: aisle, roll

*rolling in the aisles

Fig. [of an audience] wild with laughter. (*Typically: get them ~; have them ~; leave them ~.) DI have the best jokes you've ever heard. I'll have them rolling in the aisles. What a great performance. We had them rolling in the aisles.

See also: aisle, roll

roll in the aisles

Laugh very hard, as in The comedian's new book had them rolling in the aisles. This hyperbolic idiom alludes to a performance that causes an audience to laugh so hard that they might well roll about in the theater's aisles. [First half of 1900s]

See also: aisle, roll

be rolling in the aisles

If people in an audience are rolling in the aisles, they are laughing a lot at something. They loved him — they were rolling in the aisles. Note: You can also say that you have an audience rolling in the aisles. It's all good knockabout stuff that has them rolling in the aisles. His shows still have them rolling in the aisles. Note: The aisles in a theatre or cinema are the gaps between the blocks of seats.

See also: aisle, roll

have people rolling in the aisles

1 make an audience laugh uncontrollably. 2 be very amusing. informal

1 1940 P. G. Wodehouse Quick Service I made the speech of a lifetime. I had them tearing up the seats and rolling in the aisles.

See also: aisle, have, people, roll

lead someone up the aisle

get married to someone.

See also: aisle, lead, up

knock them in the aisles

amaze and impress people. informal

See also: aisle, knock

go/walk down the ˈaisle

(informal) get married: I never thought you’d be the first one to walk down the aisle — you used to say you’d never marry!

The aisle is the passage down the middle of a church between the two blocks of seats.

See also: aisle, down, walk

ˌrolling in the ˈaisles

(informal) laughing a lot: The comedian was very good indeed. He had the audience rolling in the aisles.

See also: aisle, roll