[General] laugh on the other side of one’s mouth

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

He was so cock sure that he had solved the problems that he had to laugh on the other side of his mouth when he saw that the right answers were different from his.

laugh on the other side of one’s mouth = be disappointed, change from joy or triumph to sorrow or regret

V.

 

[dsec]

i'd be more concerned with "cock sure"

 

[buggles]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to give me your considered opinion concerning the interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

He was so cock sure that he had solved the problems that he had to laugh on the other side of his mouth when he saw that the right answers were different from his.

laugh on the other side of one’s mouth = be disappointed, change from joy or triumph to sorrow or regret

V.

The more usual expression is to "laugh on the other side of your face".

And "cock-sure" is fine as an expression of over-confidence.