The phrase "laughed away" comprises two words with entirely different spellings. "Laughed" is spelled phonetically as /læft/, with the "gh" silent. Whereas, "away" is spelled phonetically as /əˈweɪ/, with the "w" pronounced as a "w" sound. Together, these two words form a common idiom meaning to dismiss or brush off a concern or problem with humor or levity. Despite its irregular spelling, "laughed away" is an easily understandable phrase in the English language.
Laughed away is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of dismissing or trivializing something through laughter. It involves using laughter as a means to invalidate, minimize, or disregard a particular issue, argument, criticism, or concern. When someone laughs away something, they react with amusement or scorn, turning the subject matter into a joke or something not worthy of serious consideration or attention.
This phrase implies that the laughter is used as a defense mechanism or a way to avoid engaging in a meaningful discussion or addressing a valid point. By laughing away something, individuals attempt to undermine the significance or credibility of the matter at hand. It may be used to downplay an uncomfortable truth, embarrassment, or inconvenient truth rather than confronting it directly.
Laughing away can also occur in situations where someone tries to diminish the importance of their own or another person's emotions or feelings by laughing in a condescending or dismissive manner. This can happen when individuals are uncomfortable with vulnerability, emotions, or addressing sensitive topics.
Overall, laughed away conveys the notion of using laughter as a weapon to deflect attention, devalue, or ridicule something, ultimately preventing a genuine exploration or acknowledgment of the subject matter.
The term "laughed away" is a phrase that combines the verb "laugh" and the adverb "away".
The word "laugh" has its origins in the Old English word "hleahhan", which meant "to laugh, rejoice, or deride". This Old English word evolved from the Proto-Germanic word "hlahjan", which ultimately comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "kel-" meaning "to shout" or "to cry out".
The adverb "away" has its roots in the Old English word "aweg", which means "onward, away from". This word combines the prefix "a-" meaning "on" or "in" and the noun "weg" meaning "way" or "path". Over time, "aweg" evolved into the Middle English term "away".