Laugh off Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Mask Used to hide true feelings about a negative situation by pretending it's not serious. Despite being upset, he laughed off the rude comment. Pro Tip 2/3Social Easement It can defuse tension in awkward situations or when facing criticism. She laughed off the awkward silence during the meeting. Pro Tip 3/3Deflection Sometimes used to avoid addressing the issue or to evade further questioning. He laughed off the question about his future plans.