Provençal expression

Rire à si peta l'emboulìgou

Feelings

Literal translation

to laugh until one's navel bursts

Meaning

to laugh long and loud

Explanation

Laughing a lot and very hard, literally laughing until the navel bursts. Laughter shakes the body, hence several expressions imagining exaggerated physical consequences. The word embouligue, navel, long common because it names something familiar and intimate, is now dated but survives well in this expression, felt to be a funny word. On the same pattern exist rire à se péter le bédélet, the belly, or rire à se faire péter la sous-ventrière, the girdle.

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Other expressions on the same theme

es vengu me dansa davanshe came on to me, made advances S'estrassa dóu rireto laugh until one can't breathe Si faire uno fourro de rireto have a good laugh Si faire uno pèu de rireto have a good laugh Si prene uno estoumagadoto suffer a bitter disappointment, an emotional blow Toumba de la figuieroto be caught completely off guard, a little disappointed