It is to laugh

Posted by Smokey Stover on August 30, 2007

In Reply to: It is to laugh posted by Turner on August 29, 2007

: I used to hear people all the time say "It is to laugh". Usually in some overly dramatic humorous fashion. Where did that come from?

The origin of this, I believe, is the French phrase, "C'est à rire," which, translated literally as "It is to laugh," caught Johnny Carson's fancy. He repeated it often on his show, in a low-key manner, meaning roughly, "That's funny" (i.e., humorous), but often without great enthusiasm.
SS

• It is to laugh ESC 30/August/07
  • It is to laugh RRC 30/August/07