split one's sides

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split one's sides (third-person singular simple present splits one's sides, present participle splitting one's sides, simple past and past participle split one's sides) (intransitive, idiomatic)

1. To laugh hysterically.

   Synonyms: laugh one's head off, roll in the aisles

   • 1922 February, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:

     Madcap Ciss with her golliwog curls. You had to laugh at her sometimes. For instance when she asked you would you have some more Chinese tea and jaspberry ram and when she drew the jugs too and the men's faces on her nails with red ink make you split your sides […]

   • 1988, “Mayhem Maybe”, in Ian Anderson (music), 20 Years of Jethro Tull, performed by Jethro Tull:

     And we sat and watched the women hide
     Laughed so much we split our sides
     Scattered horses that they would ride
     Mayhem in the high degree.

• sidesplitting