Laughing-stock

Meaning:
To be a laughing-stock would be to be the object of ridicule.

Example:
Wearing that silly clown outfit made him the laughing-stock of the night

Did you know?
In the past, stocks were used as a form of punishment. In recent years, these stocks are seen at fun fairs and carnivals. This humorous effect hence created the expression ‘laughing-stock’.Make sure to point to the image for an example of what “stocks” are.

In the past, stocks were used as a form of punishment. An example of a stock is shown in the image on the left. However, in recent years, these stocks are more commonly seen at fun fairs and carnivals and used for humour, hence creating the expression ‘laughing-stock‘.