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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread To laugh #169071 07/08/2007 12:38 PM Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 Hydra addict Hydra addict Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 631 I sometimes see "laugh" used to mean "say with a laugh" as in, Quote: "Go to hell", laughed Albert. This sense is not in the dictionary. Is it somewhat incorrect? (That is, "best avoided in careful usage", as my dictionary sometimes puts it.) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: To laugh Hydra #169072 07/08/2007 2:03 PM Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,773 Apple Valley, CA, USA dalehileman Pooh-Bah dalehileman Pooh-Bah Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,773 Apple Valley, CA, USA This sort of construction is often used where the quote itself suggests a connection to the verb, as in "'Cut a gut', coughed Albert," "'Ooh, nooo!' whined Albert" or "'Stop the shit, Skipper,' sputtered Albert. "Though "Go to hell" doesn't sound like a laugh, I'm sure it's ok on purely technical grounds dalehileman Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: To laugh dalehileman #169073 07/08/2007 2:26 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Buffalo Shrdlu Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 7,210 Vermont well, I suppose one could say, "go to hell", said Albert, laughing. or laughingly. but why would you? I don't see what's wrong with laughed. formerly known as etaoin... Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: To laugh Buffalo Shrdlu #169081 07/09/2007 2:43 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Well--I don't recall seeing this particular word used like this; but I don't think it's any "wrong-er" than, for ex., "Hah!, snorted Albert". Just gives a feel for the intent. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: To laugh Jackie #169087 07/09/2007 4:53 PM Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 120 California Maven member Maven member Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 120 California I know in certain circles that type of usage is frowned upon. If you haven't developed your character well enough that the tone is clear either from past association or context, this is a trite way to set the mood. tempus edax rerum Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Re: To laugh Maven #169094 07/09/2007 7:39 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Zed Pooh-Bah Zed Pooh-Bah Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada "I must be in a different circle." Zed shrugged. "I don't find it trite; in dialogue it sounds neater to me than said with a laugh." Part of the problem is finding ways to differentiate the speakers, especially if there ore more than two, without too frequent use of A said, B said, A said, C said, Etc said. edit: and how the heck did this topic pull up adds for bird flu protection? Last edited by Zed; 07/09/2007 7:40 PM. Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Share Post on Reddit Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Website Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary Forum Statistics Forums16 Topics13,916 Posts230,373 Members9,209 Most Online7,006 Mar 7th, 2026 Newest Members Peripatetic Toad, JerryC, blvd, Tony Hood, Wood Delivery 9,209 Registered Users Top Posters(30 Days) wofahulicodoc 35 A C Bowden 14 Top Posters wwh 13,858 Faldage 13,803 Jackie 11,613 wofahulicodoc 11,202 tsuwm 10,542 LukeJavan8 9,974 Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210 AnnaStrophic 6,511 Wordwind 6,296 of troy 5,400

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