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Origin of a saying

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  • 23-04-2007 5:53pm
    #1
    Exit
    Registered Users Posts: 2,267 ✭✭✭


    Does anybody know the origins of the following phrase(s):

    "I broke my heart laughing"
    "I was breaking my sh!t laughing"
    "He was breaking his bollix laughing"

    I was trying to explain the phrase to a non-Irish person, and they asked "Why 'breaking'?" and i was stumped too. The phrase doesn't make much sense. Anyone know where it comes from?


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    #2
    is_that_so
    Registered Users Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    Here's a definition I found for heart.

    I'd say they are based on the idea of "dying laughing" or it could be to do with the idea of laughing heartily - i.e. "with a lot of heart". It could also be connected to "split your sides with laughter" - i.e. to physically split your sides.

    Not sure about the local coloured versions though. :rolleyes:
    I reckon that's just a touch of bravado.

    "I burst me ...... laughing."


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