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Imagine someone is so silly or behaves so stupidly or often says so foolish stuff that makes him sound ridiculous. I wonder how can one mention such a person?

I know the term "laughing stock" that according to the dictionary definition means:

Laughing stock:
A person who is the subject of mockery after a blunder.

  • If I mess up this speech, I'll be the laughing stock of the school!

Would it make sense to tell a close friend smilingly:

  • (1) He's our laughing stock. [Meaning: someone who we laugh at in our company - like an inside joke]

or

  • (2) This matter has become the laughing stock for all. [Meaning: something that everyone finds it silly and hilarious that whenever thinks about it.]

If no, then how shall I refer to them?

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He’s our laughing stock

This sentence doesn’t really flow so He’s our laughing stock is wrong. You can’t be some particular person’s laughing stock, you can only be a laughing stock for everyone. Take this example sentence:

Since he failed his examination, he’s definitely going to be a laughing stock.

This matter has become the laughing stock for all

This sentence does not flow too. Only a person can become a laughing stock. Take the example which I wrote previously:

Since he failed his examination, he’s definitely going to be a laughing stock.

The he refers to a person , so laughing stock only refers to a person

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  • Thank you @Genie. So can I say: "He's a laughing stock for me" instead of the case #1? I wonder what would you say rather than the second case?
    – A-friend
    Commented Nov 6, 2021 at 1:58
  • @A-friend No. As I’ve said in the answer above, you can’t be somebody’s particular laughing stock, you can only be a laughing stock for somebody. You can’t write “He’s a laughing stock for me.” You can write “He’s a laughing stock for everyone. “
    – Genie
    Commented Nov 6, 2021 at 2:02
  • That's not entirely accurate, Genie. Collins Dictionary gives the example His policies became the laughing stock of the financial community.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Nov 6, 2021 at 9:38
  • @KateBunting the financial community means that it is the full community.
    – Genie
    Commented Nov 6, 2021 at 10:14
  • @Genie - You claimed that 'only a person can become a laughing stock' - and 'the financial community' is only a section of the community at large.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Nov 6, 2021 at 10:57

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