across the aisle

Referring to people who have different political beliefs or ideologies than oneself or someone else. Commonly used of members of different political parties. You'll never have the votes to pass this healthcare bill if you don't reach across the aisle. If reform of any kind is going to occur in this lifetime, it will take some strong-willed individuals willing to work across the aisle. The party in power just steamrolls things through anymore. No politicians seem interested in working across this aisle.

be rolling in the aisles

To be laughing uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. Your audience will be rolling in the aisles! Supposedly, that movie's a comedy, but I wasn't rolling in the aisles or anything. I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! He practically has us rolling in the aisles whenever we're together.

See also: aisle, roll

both sides of the aisle

Both political parties in a two-party system. You'll never have the votes to pass this healthcare bill if you don't get support from both sides of the aisle. If reform of any kind is going to occur in this lifetime, it will require the cooperation of strong-willed individuals on both sides of the aisle. Both sides of the aisle rarely work together anymore. The party in power just steamrolls things through.

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. 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. You'll never have the votes to pass this bill if you don't entice some Democrats 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. I can't believe you would cross the aisle over this minor disagreement with your fellow party members. A: "Wow, I never expected him to cross the aisle to the Conservative Party." B: "I don't think they took him much seriously in the Labour Party."

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! Supposedly, that movie's a comedy, but it didn't have me rolling in the aisles or anything. I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! He practically has us rolling in the aisles whenever we're together.

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. Supposedly, that movie's a comedy, but it didn't have me laughing in the aisles or anything.

knock them in the aisles

old-fashioned To thoroughly impress, overwhelm, or excite a group of spectators (almost always identified by the pronoun "them"). Good luck, honey. I know your presentation is going to knock them in the aisles today! Our next guest is a young comedian who's been touring the country, knocking them in the aisles with his edgy humor.

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.

lead (one) up the aisle

To become married to one. Usually, but not always, said of a man leading a woman. It was 50 years ago today that my dear Robert led me up the aisle.

leave (someone) rolling in the aisles

To cause the members of an audience to laugh uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll leave them rolling in the aisles! Her razor-sharp wit left the audience rolling in the aisles for the entire performance.

reach across the aisle

To make an effort to work cooperatively with people of different beliefs or ideologies. Typically used of members of different political parties. You'll never have the votes to pass this healthcare bill if you don't reach across the aisle. If reform of any kind is going to occur in this lifetime, it will take some strong-willed individuals willing to reach across the aisle.

roll in the aisles

To 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

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

See also: aisle, roll

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!

work both sides of the aisle

To aid, support, or engage with both political parties, as on some issue, situation, agenda, etc. Look, I've been working both sides of the aisle in Washington for years, negotiating the rather volatile divide between corporate and political interests very carefully. The only way we're going to resolve this crisis is if we commit to working both sides of the aisle.

work down the aisle

1. To proceed along the aisle of a church or other venue during a wedding. Said especially of the bride. A corruption of the standard phrase "walk down the aisle." We've got some great tips to help you get in shape so you'll be looking your finest when you work down the aisle. I've always wanted to have a choir singing "Hey Jude" by The Beatles when I work down the aisle.

2. By extension, to get married. I still can't believe that Nora and Scott finally worked down the aisle. I was starting to think I'd never see those two get hitched! I've been dreaming since I was young of working down the aisle with the love of my life, surrounded by all my friends and family.

*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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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.

lead someone up the aisle

get married to someone.

knock them in the aisles

amaze and impress people. informal

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.

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

See also: