Is there a word or a term for someone who laughs out of place?

Question

Imagine a person, who laughs for no reason. And then imagine another person, who starts laughing 10 minutes after a joke has been told.
Is there a word or a phrase to describe any of such persons (in non-offensive way)? Maybe, some regional expressions?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 24 '13 at 06:41

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«Ridere a scoppio ritardato» when you start laughing way after you should have.

«Aver la riderella», «esser preso dalla riderella» when you can't stop laughing (as mentioned by others above).

answered Nov 24 '13 at 06:41

I like ridere a scoppio ritardato! Not an expression I would commonly use, but easily understood and very appropriate! – nico Nov 24 '13 at 08:11
(actually I thought it was rather common :-)) – Nov 24 '13 at 08:25

score 5 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 23 '19 at 09:54

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Both acts could be be expressed by means of a perfectly legitimate Italian expression: "ridere a sproposito".

edited Feb 23 '19 at 09:54

Charo

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answered Nov 28 '13 at 07:59

Daniel

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that's the right answer to me. – Daniele B Nov 28 '13 at 08:22
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Note that, although "ridere a sproposito" can be used in both situations, it introduces a judgement and can be interpreted as offensive. – Dec 01 '13 at 00:08

badp · Answer 3 · 2013-11-23T10:25:32.187

For the former case, the proverb says "il riso abbonda sulla bocca degli stolti" (there's a lot of laughter* in the stupid's mouth) For the latter case, what comes to mind is the highly irregular expression "essere tardo di comprendonio" (literally, to be slow of understanding), but neither of these are any pleasant on the receiving end. Euphemisms in informal situations could be commenting on your friend's amount of intoxication or in the latter case likening him to a diesel engine: he's slow but he gets there. In more formal situations it's probably polite not to comment.

If you're approximately in your 20s, really friends and he's been in Italy in the past few years you could even risk quoting Zelig: "oh, ma ci sei? sei connesso?"

*riso means both laughter and rice

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 23 '13 at 10:32

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As for the first question, there is a quite colloquial (and regional?) word, stupidera, that denotes that kind of laughter when you cannot stop laughing, and everything makes you laugh even more.

answered Nov 23 '13 at 10:32

DaG

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Also "ridarella". – Matteo Italia Nov 23 '13 at 11:11
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In Veneto el boresso – egreg Nov 23 '13 at 11:34
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Ridarella is what I'd thought myself. But I also wanted a word for "a laugh with no reason at all", not only "unstoppable" – I.M. Nov 23 '13 at 11:39
"Stupidera" is Lombard, whereas I think "ridarella" is Italian. – Sklivvz Nov 23 '13 at 13:57
I use ridarola and stupidera, but they are both clearly regional – laika Jan 09 '15 at 15:33

Is there a word or a term for someone who laughs out of place?

4 Answers4