phrases - Is "burst oneself laughing" a valid expression?


My friend recently used the phrase:



She nearly burst herself laughing.



Is this a valid expression. I've certainly never heard it before, but he insists it is in common use.



Answer



The idea of someone bursting with laughter has been around at least since the sixteenth century when the poet John Skelton wrote:



For laughter I am lyke to brast.



The reflexive form of 'burst', as in your example, however, is probably not all that common.


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