Each week , we tell about terms and expressions we use in American English . We often explore their meanings and explain how to use them in different situations . Today we talk about something common to everyone around the world . Laughing is one of life's most simple pleasures . It is free . You can do it anywhere . And it makes you feel good ! There is another thing you should know about laughter : Laughter is contagious . Like the flu , laughter can spread easily among people . But unlike the flu , even a good handwashing will not protect you against breaking into a fit of laughter . Your eyes water , your heart rate goes up and your face gets that beautiful laughter glow . In fact , many doctors say that mental health can affect physical health . You might even say , “Laughter is the best medicine .” However , “laughter is the best medicine ” does not mean that you should not take medicine when you are sick . It simply means that having a positive outlook might help ease your troubles . People who use this expression are probably pretty happy people . Then there are those other types – you know , people who are always grumpy . We could call someone who does not like to laugh a curmudgeon . Well , unless you yourself are a curmudgeon . If that is the case , you two could hang out and not laugh and not have fun together ! You know what we say -- misery loves company . This means that some people who are miserable and unhappy like to make others miserable and unhappy , too . On the other hand , making others laugh with you is an act of joy and kindness . However , the opposite is true when people laugh at you . That experience is lonely and no fun at all . But at least those two phrases really show the importance of choosing the right preposition . For example , if Anna is in a funny play and people laugh with her -- that is a good thing . However , if she messes up her lines and falls on stage , people may laugh at her . And that is not so good . People might even call her a laughingstock . No one , not even a professional comedian , wants to be a laughingstock . That is a really great example , Bryan . But you're right . Nobody wants to be a laughingstock . For example , let's say a teacher falls on hard times and loses his apartment . So , for a couple of days he sleeps in his car outside of the school . As it happens , at night he sleeps in bright pink , full-body pajamas with a hood and bunny ears . And he holds a teddy bear . Well , some cruel students record him sleeping in his car and share the video with their classmates . The teacher becomes the laughingstock of the whole school . That was a mean thing to do . Yes , it was . But our story does not end there . The students post the video online , and it goes viral ! More than 10 million people watch it on YouTube ! So , the teacher gets dozens of offers to make commercials for pajamas and teddy bears . He makes a lot of money . Then he writes a best-selling book on how to fall asleep anywhere , anytime . Good for him ! It gets even better ! He stars in a movie based on his life : “The Teacher Who Slept in His Car .” So , in the end , you could say the teacher definitely had the last laugh . When you have the last laugh , you end up winning when at first you were losing . Another way to have the last laugh , is to simply laugh off a tough situation . It shows you just do not care . For example , if the teacher is a friend of yours , you could always tell him to just laugh it off . It may be difficult . But if you have the choice to laugh or cry , chose laughter . For one thing , you may inspire others to laugh , too . As we also like to say : Laugh and the world laughs with you ; cry and you cry alone . This means that people prefer to be around those who are happy and cheerful . Ella Wheeler Wilcox , a poet of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries , penned this famous expression . In her poem “Solitude ,” she writes ."Laugh , and the world laughs with you ; weep , and you weep alone ." However , these days , we do not usually say “weep .” So , the expression now uses the word “cry .” Whatever you call it -- weeping or crying , it is always better to laugh !