Grammar fix
laugh off
dismiss with humour
To treat criticism or a problem as unimportant by joking or pretending to find it funny.
phrasal verb
How oftenCommon
LevelB2
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
He laughed off the criticism, but I could tell it had upset him.
I used to take negative comments personally, but now I usually laugh them off and focus on improving.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She laughed it away and changed the subject.
Say: She laughed it off and changed the subject.
When you treat criticism or a problem as a joke, the particle is 'off': laugh it off, like shrug it off.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Act like a criticism doesn't matter
How dismissiveUnbotheredCurt
shrug offShowing that criticism or a problem does not worry you.
laugh offYou're here · Dismissing criticism or concerns with humour or apparent amusement.
brush offRefusing to take a criticism or concern seriously.