church giggles

church giggles pl (plural only)

1. Uncontrollable laughter or giggling that occurs inappropriately in an inappropriate place and time, as when in church.
   • 2010, Sarah Ferguson, What I Know Now: Simple Lessons Learned the Hard Way:

     But I couldn't help myself Something struck me as awfully funny that day—the hushed reverence, my starched white dress, I cannot say for sure. My church giggles grew louder and louder, and the more I tried to tame them, the worse they got, until the Church of England must have had doubts about my prospects for salvation.

   • 2012, Jenny McCarthy, Bad Habits: A Book of Confessions about Confession:

     My Jews lost control of their church giggles and started busting out laughing to the point of losing oxygen. I'm glad they weren't wearing a skirt like I was because I didn't want to witness any pee trickles that were happening.

   • 2013, Paula Young Lee, Deer Hunting in Paris: A Memoir of God, Guns, and Game Meat:

     Choir music can also make you burst into the church giggles, which strike when the minister quotes a verse of scripture that's accidentally funny, like the one about the talking mule, or pretty much anything from Zechariah, 5.1–2: [...]

   • 2015, Angela W. Williams, Hush Now, Baby:

     Rusty, LaClaire and I had many memories growing up in this church, not the least of which was getting the church giggles more times than we could count.