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aisle

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cross the aisle

1. Of politicians, to unite or cooperate—especially through voting—with an opposing political party or members thereof, so as to achieve some political goal or purpose. Primarily heard in US, South Africa. With just enough Republicans crossing the aisle, the Democrats were able to pass the bill through both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If reform of any kind is going to come about in this lifetime, it will take some strong-willed individuals willing to cross the aisle.

2. Of parliamentary members, to leave one's current political party and join another, such that one's legislative seat is physically moved to the new party's location in parliament. Primarily heard in UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand. Following the prime minister's controversial tax bill, several members of his party crossed the aisle to the Labour Party.

See also: aisle, cross

laughing in the aisles

Laughing uproariously or hysterically. (Used especially in the phrase "have someone laughing in the aisles.") Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them laughing in the aisles! I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! You're going to be laughing in the aisles when you meet him.

See also: aisle, laugh

have (someone) laughing in the aisles

To cause someone to laugh uproariously or hysterically. Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them laughing in the aisles! I'm telling you, Mark's boyfriend is hilarious! He had me laughing in the aisles when I met him.

See also: aisle, have, laugh

walk down the aisle

To get married. I still can't believe that Nora and Scott walked down the aisle—I never thought I'd see those two get married!

See also: aisle, down, walk

*rolling in the aisles

Fig. [of an audience] wild with laughter. (*Typically: get them ~; have them ~; leave them ~.) DI have the best jokes you've ever heard. I'll have them rolling in the aisles. What a great performance. We had them rolling in the aisles.

See also: aisle, roll

rolling in the aisles

laughing loudly The group, considered by many to be one of the funniest in Canada, had its audiences rolling in the aisles at last night's concert.

Etymology: based on the idea of uncontrollable laughter causing the people watching a show to fall on the floor in the aisles (the long narrow spaces between rows of seats in a theater)

See also: aisle, roll

have somebody rolling in the aisles

to make an audience (= a group of people watching a performance) laugh a lot Considered by many to be one of Britain's best comedians, Izzard has had audiences rolling in the aisles all over the country.

See also: aisle, have, roll

roll in the aisles

Laugh very hard, as in The comedian's new book had them rolling in the aisles. This hyperbolic idiom alludes to a performance that causes an audience to laugh so hard that they might well roll about in the theater's aisles. [First half of 1900s]

See also: aisle, roll