Final answer:
The sentence uses a simile, a type of figurative language that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as', to describe laughter as being sudden and unexpected, akin to the sound of breaking dishes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The figurative language used in the sentence "Our laughter is all of a sudden and surprised, like a pile of dishes breaking" is a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things by using the connecting words 'like' or 'as'. The comparison made in the sentence creates a mental image of something unexpected and abrupt, similar to the suddenness and surprise of dishes breaking. This helps the reader understand the nature of the laughter by comparing it to a vivid and relatable sound.