今天要學的習慣用語是: laugh out of the other side of your mouth。讓我們看個例子來體會習慣用語laugh out of the other side of your mouth是什么意思。他說的是一錢如命的Bill自作聰明地問一個人低價買進一輛汽車。

例句：Bill thought he got a real bargain because the car was half the normal price. Now he's laughing out of the other side of his mouth. The police came to tell him the car was stolen. So he loses both the car and the money.

原來Bill是殺到半價買進這輛車的。他當時真是高興，以為自己占了大便宜，但是想不到警察來對他說這輛車是贓貨。這一來Bill既沒了車又丟了錢。

剛才說過Bill是一錢如命的家伙。起初買了便宜貨想必得意揚揚，但是后來面臨這種賠了夫人又折兵的局面，他必定會捶胸頓足、懊喪萬分。可見laugh out of the other side of his mouth這個習慣用語是用來描繪這種樂極生悲的局面的。它的含義是意外打擊使人哭笑不得、轉喜為憂。