split one's sides

present singular third person splits one's sides · participle present splitting one's sides

1. idiomaticintransitiveTo laugh hysterically.

   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.

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

   1 more example

   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[…]

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, “[Episode 13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

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