Where did the expression barrel of laughs come from?

Enslaved Africans were not allowed to laugh on some plantations, and so, in an act of defiance and as a mode of survival, they often stuck their heads into barrels in order to laugh out of sight and out of earshot of white slavers.

Where did the term barrel of monkeys come from?

Very amusing or diverting, as in That video game was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. This expression, first recorded in 1895, alludes to the playful behavior of these primates.

What does a barrel of fun mean?

Filters. A great amount of fun or enjoyment , or something or someone that provides this. noun.

What does the idiom barrel of monkeys mean?

A group that is having fun and enjoying themselves. Often used in the phrase “more fun than a barrel of monkeys.” I always have a great time when Katie’s around—she’s more fun than a barrel of monkeys!

What is a as old as the hills?

The phrase ‘Be as Old as the Hills’ means that if something is as old as the hills, it has existed for a very long time. Example of Use: “Difficult relationships between parents and children are nothing new: the problem’s as old as the hills.”

What is shooting fish in a barrel?

See synonyms for like shooting fish in a barrel on Thesaurus.com. Ridiculously easy, as in Setting up a computer nowadays is like shooting fish in a barrel. This hyperbolic expression alludes to the fact that fish make an easy target inside a barrel (as opposed to swimming freely in the sea). [

What is the meaning of the idiom to split hairs?

To argue about an inconsequential and trivial aspect of an issue: “When you are accused of being forty-five minutes late for an appointment, you are splitting hairs to say that you were really only forty minutes late.”

What is the meaning of this house is as clean as a whistle?

phrase. If you describe something as clean as a whistle, you mean that it is completely clean. The kitchen was clean as a whistle. See full dictionary entry for whistle.

What does bottom of the barrel mean?

Definition of the bottom of the barrel : the lowest possible condition, level, etc. After the divorce, Tim felt he had reached/hit the bottom of the barrel. The excessive coverage of the scandal signals that the news media may have finally hit/reached the bottom of the barrel.

What part of gun is barrel?

A barrel is a part of a gun. It is a long metal tube that the bullet or projectile goes through after it is fired. Guns can have many different sizes of barrels. Usually, longer barrels make it easier for the bullet to hit the target more often.

Where did the term ‘a barrel of laughs’ originate?

Enslaved Africans were not allowed to laugh on some plantations, and so, in an act of defiance and as a mode of survival, they often stuck their heads into barrels in order to laugh out of sight and out of earshot of white slavers. This, apparently, is where we get the term “barrel of laughs.”

What is the origin of the phrase barrel of laughs?

The source of abundant fun and enjoyment. We might have images of sailors getting drunk on barrels of rum being the origin of ‘a barrel of laughs’ – but it isn’t. The expression began life as ‘a barrel of fun’ – ‘barrel’ in this context just meaning ‘lots of’. barrel of fun, n. phr.

What does barrel of laughs mean?

barrel of laughs (plural barrels of laughs) (idiomatic) That which is enjoyable or entertaining. You should see this movie I just got, it’s a real barrel of laughs. (idiomatic) That which is immature, embarrassing, or disgraceful.