Emotion Thesuarus Entry: Amusement

Posted by Angela Ackerman

June 26,
2008

· A quirked eyebrow or raised eyebrows
· A snort of laughter
· A chuckle, chortle or guffaw
· A wide grin
· Eyes squinting, lit with an inner glow or twinkle of mischief
· A bemused smile
· Uncontrollable laughter
· Inability to form words
· Loss of breath
· Chuckling wheezes, gasping for air
· Holding onto ones sides
· Slapping knees
· Drumming feet against the floor
· Falling against someone for support
· ‘Drunken’ behavior (weaving as you walk, reaching out for a support, struggling to stay upright)
· Repeating the punch line over and over, or a select word or phrase to spur on more laughter
· Squealling
· Eyes tearing, wiping at eyes
· Face reddening, shaking head, trying to regain control
· A high voice
· Whimpers of mirth
· Spewing food or drink if an attack of laughter hits while eating/drinking
· Falling to the ground, rolling on the floor
· Crashing into things, clumsiness but not caring
· A wide-eyed stare that gets you or others dissolving into laughter again
· Asking/begging people to stop making you laugh
· Pain in the ribs or stomach
· A loud belly laugh
· Shaking with hysteria
· A need to sit down, collapsing into a chair
· Giggling, making faces, winking
· Holding you hand up as you laugh as if to ward off more jokes or to ask for someone to stop being so funny
· A disheveled appearance as a result of giving yourself over to laughter
· Light-headedness
· Throwing your head back in a bray of laughter
· Grabbing at ribs like you have a stitch in your side
· Weakness in knees, muscles twitching
· Trying to keep a straight face but failing
· Covering mouth with a hand to hide a smile/hold in laugh
· Turning away in an attempt to regain control of features
· Cupping cheeks with hands and shaking with laughter
· Avoiding eye contact to maintain control over laughter
· Clearing throat, struggling to speak in full sentences
· Attempting to change the topic/discussion to avoid falling apart with laughter
· Making gestures in lieu of speaking because you’re unable to form words correctly
· Biting down on lip, pressing lips together to keep laughter in
· Punching someone in the arm
· Bumping shoulders with someone, giving them a good natured shake or slap on the back