laugh out of the other side of mouth

laugh out (of) the other side of (one's) mouth

To experience a drastic change in one's emotions or fortunes, especially from happiness to a negative emotion, often in a short span of time. A: "I thought your mother was happy that we're getting married." B: "Me too, but now, she's laughing out the other side of her mouth, and I get an angry phone call from her every day." They'll be laughing out of the other side of their mouths when they realize how much they'll have to pay in late fees.

See also: laugh, mouth, of, other, out, side

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

laugh out of the other side of (one's) mouth

To see one's good fortune turn to bad; suffer a humbling reversal.

See also: laugh, mouth, of, other, out, side

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.