etymology - Origins of the phrase "How killing!"


My mother says this phrase all of the time, to mean "That is hilarious".


Supposedly "killing" is short for "killingly-funny"(!) but I must admit I have never ever heard anyone else say it.


Is it a genuine expression? And if so, what are its origins?



Answer



I found that the expression "killingly funny" (from which "How killing" comes from) is used to describe something that is farcical or screamingly funny and this term is related to or characteristic of the burlesque theater. The adverb "killingly" in fact, stands for "in a very humorous manner".


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