The feeling of happiness is something most of us try our best to achieve. We love to feel happy and even more so, we enjoy sharing that emotion with our friends and families, or basically anyone who will listen. However, simply saying 'I'm happy today' or 'I feel great today' may not express exactly how happy, excited or elated you actually are.
So, how can you express this feeling in English and sound as natural as possible?
Well, as with most things in English, we can use idioms! Idiomatic phrases are expressions which are commonly used by English speakers and are essential for communicating with native speakers especially. They can be a little tricky, as the words when put together, often don't make sense, it's difficult to derive the meaning, even if you know all of the individual words.
So, let me help you and together we will be using them in no time at all!
On Cloud Nine
The origin of this idiom is not known for sure. Some people believe it has roots in the Buddhist faith and others think that it comes from the International Cloud Atlas, 1886, where clouds were assigned numerical orders depending on the height they could reach. However, since the 1950's it has been used by English speakers around the world to express a feeling of pure happiness and excitement.
"I can't believe I got the job, I'm walking on cloud nine right now"
On Top of the World
If you were standing on the highest cloud, or on the tallest mountain and were able to look at all the amazing things going on below you, how would you feel? Pretty happy right!
This is why we use the idiom 'on top of the world' to express happiness and elation!
"I finally passed my driving test, I feel on top of the world"
Over the moon
Although this idiom was first mentioned hundreds of years ago it became extremely popular in British culture in the 1970's, when English football managers started using it to explain the joy they felt after winning a football match!
"I'm over the moon with my exam result, can you believe I got an A?"
Happy as Larry
Who is Larry? Well, Larry is short for Lawrence, specifically in this case, Lawrence / Larry Foley who was an Australian boxer. In the 1890's Larry won a series of boxing matches and won a lot of money. In fact, he won $150,000 in a big fight and the next day one newspaper printed 'Happy as Larry' on the front page - Well done Larry, this idiom is still around so many years later!
" I'm as happy as Larry, I just proposed to my girlfriend and she said yes!"
I love idioms, I think they are an essential part of language because they make communicating more interesting, they put some spark into otherwise mundane conversations.
In the UK, some people can have whole conversations just using idioms, it's hilarious!
Let me know what you thought of these idioms and leave some examples in the comment section below. If you know any more, please share them with our community!
I'll look forward to speaking with you on Tuesday but for now, have a great weekend and try using these idioms!
Many thanks
Your English teacher,
Mitchell
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