laugh somebody/something out of court
laugh (someone or something) out of court
To reject an idea or situation as outrageous or absurd. Despite the phrasing, this expression does not usually refer to an actual legal case. Does this idea sound crazy? Will the board just laugh me out of court?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
laugh something out of court
to dismiss something presented in earnest as ridiculous. The committee laughed the suggestion out of court. Bob's request for a large salary increase was laughed out of court.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
laugh out of court
Dismiss with ridicule or scorn, as in When he told them the old car could be repaired, they laughed him out of court. This expression, which originally referred to a case so laughable or trivial that a court of law would dismiss it, originated in ancient Roman times but has been used in English, without its former legal significance, since the late 1800s.
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.
laugh somebody/something out of ˈcourt
(British English, informal) refuse, in an unpleasant way, to consider somebody’s suggestion, opinion, etc. seriously because you think it’s stupid: When she suggested trying the new treatment, they laughed her out of court.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017