giggle
giggle — verb
1. To make short, soft laughing sounds that keep coming back and are hard to stop,
To make short, soft laughing sounds that keep coming back and are hard to stop, usually because you find something a little silly, rude, or feel that it is the wrong moment to laugh.
The children giggled when the teacher's chair made a strange noise.
Ada could not stop giggling during the principal's serious speech.
collocation: can't stop giggling
Tanvi and Sivan giggled about the silly joke their dad told at dinner.
The audience giggled at the comedian's slightly embarrassing story.
Brandon giggled nervously when the librarian asked him to be quiet.
- chuckle
A warmer, more relaxed quiet laugh that is easier to control. Chuckling does not carry the same sense of nervousness or embarrassment.
- titter
A short, high-pitched laugh, often from a group. Titter sounds more restrained and may suggest shyness rather than genuine amusement.
- snicker
A disrespectful or mocking laugh, usually at someone's mistake or misfortune. Snicker has a more negative, unkind tone than giggle.
文法句型
giggle + at + noun/pronoun
giggle + about + noun/pronoun
用法筆記
Often used with at or about to name what causes the laughter. The at pattern is more common for a person or performance; the about pattern is more common for a story or topic.
常見錯誤
giggle — noun
1. A single short, soft laugh that often shows nervousness, embarrassment, or mild
A single short, soft laugh that often shows nervousness, embarrassment, or mild amusement at something a little silly.
Tunde let out a nervous giggle when his name was called.
collocation: nervous giggle
Kenji replied with a soft giggle, embarrassed by the compliment.
A quiet giggle from the back of the room broke the heavy silence.
Sora's giggle was so light and happy that everyone around her smiled too.
用法筆記
Often described with adjectives such as nervous, soft, quiet, or light to indicate the quality or emotion behind the laugh.
常見錯誤
2. A period of time during which a person or a group cannot stop laughing quietly,
A period of time during which a person or a group cannot stop laughing quietly, especially in a situation where laughter is not appropriate or expected.
Noor had a fit of the giggles and could not finish her speech.
idiomatic: a fit of the giggles
The whole office collapsed into giggles when the manager tripped over the cable.
idiomatic: collapse into giggles
A case of the giggles spread through the classroom during the exam.
The two friends got the giggles and had to leave the meeting room.
- giggling fit
More medical or clinical in tone; less common in everyday speech.
文法句型
the + giggles
a fit/case of the giggles
用法筆記
Usually found in fixed patterns: have/get the giggles, or a fit/case of the giggles. Plural form the giggles is standard here, even though the meaning is singular (one occasion).
常見錯誤
3. An amusing event or situation, especially one that involves making gentle fun of
An amusing event or situation, especially one that involves making gentle fun of someone or something in a light-hearted way.
Watching the dog chase its tail in the park was a bit of a giggle.
informal: a bit of a giggle
We had a good giggle at the video of Uncle Rodrigo trying to dance salsa.
The whole camping trip was a giggle from start to finish.
It was a giggle watching Noor try to teach her cat to do tricks.
文法句型
a + giggle
bit of a + giggle
用法筆記
British informal use only. In American English, do not use giggle this way. A common frame is 'a bit of a giggle' or 'a good giggle.' The tone is warm and playful, not mean-spirited.