How do you use "Having a Laugh" in a sentence?

Fifty pounds for that? Are you having a laugh? We were just having a laugh, nothing serious. You're having a laugh if you think I'm doing that. They must be having a laugh with these prices.

Having a Laugh

Q: What does "Having a Laugh" mean?

Joking; being ridiculous; are you serious? Can mean genuinely having fun/joking, or can be a rhetorical question expressing disbelief. 'Are you having a laugh?' challenges whether someone is being serious or thinks you'll accept something unreasonable.

Slang Term British ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: Joking; being ridiculous; are you serious?

开玩笑的、胡说的、你说真的吗？

Bromeando; siendo ridículo; ¿hablas en serio?

冗談でしょ？本気で言ってるの？

장난하는 거야? 진심이야? 말도 안 돼

Can mean genuinely having fun/joking, or can be a rhetorical question expressing disbelief. 'Are you having a laugh?' challenges whether someone is being serious or thinks you'll accept something unreasonable.

可以表示真的在开心/开玩笑，或者是表达难以置信的反问。'Are you having a laugh?'质疑对方是否认真或认为你会接受不合理的事情。

Puede significar genuinamente divertirse/bromear, o ser una pregunta retórica que expresa incredulidad. 'Are you having a laugh?' cuestiona si alguien habla en serio o piensa que aceptarás algo irrazonable.

本当に楽しんでいる/冗談を言っているという意味、または信じられないことを表す修辞疑問になることもある。「Are you having a laugh?」は相手が真剣なのか、あなたが不合理なことを受け入れると思っているのか疑問を呈する。

진짜로 즐거운 시간을 보내거나 농담하고 있다는 뜻일 수도 있고, 믿기 어려움을 표현하는 수사적 질문일 수도 있다. 'Are you having a laugh?'는 상대방이 진심인지, 혹은 말도 안 되는 것을 받아들일 거라 생각하는지 따지는 표현이다.

Examples

Fifty pounds for that? Are you having a laugh?
那个要五十英镑？你在开玩笑吧？
¿Cincuenta libras por eso? ¿Estás bromeando?
あれで50ポンド？冗談でしょ？
그게 50파운드라고? 장난해?
We were just having a laugh, nothing serious.
我们只是开开玩笑，没当真。
Solo estábamos bromeando, nada serio.
ただ楽しんでただけだよ、真剣じゃないよ。
그냥 재미로 그런 거야, 진지한 거 아니야.
You're having a laugh if you think I'm doing that.
你以为我会那样做？你在做梦吧。
Estás bromeando si crees que voy a hacer eso.
それをやると思ってるの？冗談でしょ。
내가 그걸 할 거라고 생각해? 농담이지.
They must be having a laugh with these prices.
这些价格他们肯定在开玩笑。
Deben estar bromeando con estos precios.
この値段、絶対ふざけてるよね。
이 가격은 분명 장난이겠지.

Pronunciation

/hævɪŋ ə lɑːf/

Usage Guide

Context: disbelief, fun, challenging

Tone: incredulous or playful depending on context

✓ Do Say

Are you having a laugh?
你在开玩笑吧？
¿Estás bromeando?
冗談でしょ？
장난해?
We're just having a laugh.
我们只是开开玩笑。
Solo estamos bromeando.
ただ楽しんでるだけだよ。
그냥 재미로 한 거야.
You're having a laugh!
你在做梦吧！
¡Estás bromeando!
冗談だよね！
농담이지!

✗ Don't Say

Very British expression
非常英式的表达
Expresión muy británica
とてもイギリス的な表現
매우 영국적인 표현
Informal—not for professional contexts
非正式——不适合职业场合
Informal—no para contextos profesionales
カジュアル——ビジネスの場面には不向き
비격식적—직장에서는 부적절

Common Mistakes

Context determines if it's fun or disbelief
Americans may not understand the incredulity meaning

Origin & History

British expression that can mean literally having fun or, when questioning, expressing incredulity. Made famous by Ricky Gervais in Extras where his catchphrase was 'Are you having a laugh? Is he having a laugh?'

Etymology: Literal: enjoying humor; Rhetorical: questioning sincerity

First recorded: British slang, popularized 2000s by Extras

Cultural Context

Era: Traditional, but popularized 2000s

Generation: All ages in UK

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Ricky Gervais in Extras (2005-2007); 'Are you having a laugh?' became catchphrase

Regional notes: Very British. Americans would say 'are you kidding me?'

Variations

Having a laughAre you having a laugh?You're having a laugh