If you’re learning American English, you should know that you don’t need to be laughing to have a funny feeling. Americans often use the expression to say they have a hunch that something will turn out differently than expected.

Below are five other idiomatic phrases that might be more than just a laughing matter:

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To have the last laugh

What it means: To have the final success in an argument or situation, especially after previous defeat or doubt of others.
In conversation: “Trisha’s book was rejected by 10 publishers, but she had the last laugh. She published it herself, and now it’s a best-seller.”

To have a sense of humor

What it means: To be able to laugh at and see the humor in life’s situations.
In conversation: “The president of the company has a great sense of humor. When her employees make stupid mistakes, she laughs and says it’s part of the learning process.”

To crack jokes

What it means: To tell jokes.
In conversation: “My best friend cracks jokes all the time. When I’m with him, I’m always laughing.”

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Comedy of errors

What it means: A situation with so many mistakes and problems that it is funny (from the William Shakespeare play The Comedy of Errors).
In conversation: “On my vacation, so many things went wrong that it turned into a comedy of errors.”

Funny business

What it means: Dishonest behavior intended to trick someone.
In conversation: “If you try any funny business while working for this company, you will be fired immediately.”

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