

If you’re on top of the world, you’re feeling great. You can also use this idiom in an ironic way, especially when someone asks you a dumb question like “How did you feel about losing your job?” Well, it’s not like I was bursting with joy about it.” Example: “When I got my first acting role, I was bursting with joy.” On Top of the World You can say “I was bursting with anger” and, idiomatically, this would be perfectly understandable, if a bit unusual. In fact, in English, you can use any noun that describes a positive emotional state, or even a negative one and you will be understood. You can be bursting with excitement, or bursting with pride. There are a number of similar alternatives. There is so much happiness in your heart it’s about to burst out. To be bursting with joy alludes to being so joyful and happy that you are filled to the bursting point. Example: “The whole team was grinning from ear to ear when they won the playoffs.” Bursting with Joy While it can describe just the appearance of happiness, such as when, for instance, smiling widely for a photo, it often describes a true state of happiness, especially in proud moments when something important has been accomplished. In fact, we sometimes here the alternative ‘smiling from ear to ear.’ It alludes to a smile so wide it stretches from one ear to the other. This idiom really means to look happy because one is smiling broadly. Example: “Bob was tickled pink when over fifty people showed up for his book signing.” Grinning From Ear to Ear As well, you don’t have to be tickled pink, you can just be tickled. However, this idiom does not describe a prolonged state of happiness but a momentary one. When you are tickled pink by something, you like it and enjoy it and so you’re certainly happy. To be tickled pink means to be very pleased by something or amused by it or entertained by it. He’s back to being a chef again and he’s as happy as a pig in muck.” Tickled Pink Example: “I’m glad Joseph left that banking job. Although the clover version is heard occasionally in the US it’s used most often in Britain. They don’t like being in mud all the time any more than you do. Pigs do enjoy the occasional mud bath but this is to cool down and keep the bugs away. There is a more vulgar version alluding to feces, which is quite insulting to pigs. Like the previous ones, this one means to be thrilled with your circumstances or what you’re doing. They spend all their time playing in the sand, happy as the day is long.” Clearly, the kids are happy about being at the beach and are having a good time. “My kids love going to the beach in the summer. I thought he would be bored but he’s as happy as the day is long.” Here, although we are talking about circumstances, the context reveals that Uncle Frankie is happy all the time. Usually, context will reveal the difference, as in these examples: “My uncle Frankie was able to retire early. Happy as the day is long can definitely be used to express general happiness, but again, it is especially used to express happiness and contentment with your circumstances or something you are doing. I was not a happy bunny.” Happy as the Day Is Long Example: “The electricity was off for two days. A Happy BunnyĪ happy bunny is someone who is happy, satisfied, and or content.
#Origin of cloud nine meaning full
However, the full phrase is “as happy as a clam at full tide” or “in the mud at full tide.” Presumably, the allusion is that a clam in the mud at high tide cannot be dug up, so this is when it’s most happy. So why a clam? Well, some people say it is because a clam always looks like it’s smiling. Someone who is happy as a clam is very happy and usually, again, this is a situational idiom. Example: “When Mary saw the carousel at the park, she was happy as a lark and rode it for hours.” Happy as a Clam (at high tide)

Used since at least the first half of the 1800s, the idiom happy as a lark is assumed to allude to the song of the lark, which to human ears seems quite beautiful, melodious, and happy. It is usually used to describe happiness in reaction to an event or to what one is doing. To be happy as a lark means to be very happy, excited, delighted, etc. This idiom can be used to describe happiness as a general characteristic, but it’s rarely used this way.
#Origin of cloud nine meaning movie
Example: “Give me a beer and a good movie to watch and I’m a happy camper.” Happy as a Lark That’s just the way he is…” Happy CamperĪ happy camper is someone who is happy in their situation a contented or satisfied person. Example: “What is that guy smiling about?” “Who, Vic? He’s just a happy-go-lucky person. A happy-go-lucky person is happy all the time and does not worry about anything. I’m always talking about how my cat Petey is so nervous now.
