27 Idioms for Happiness: Joyful Expressions

Happiness is a feeling we all cherish, and sometimes words alone can’t capture the sheer joy we experience. That’s where idioms come in handy! Idioms are expressions that convey a particular meaning beyond the literal interpretation of their words.

In this listicle, we’ll explore some common idioms for happiness, breaking down their meanings and using each one in a sentence.

What is an idiom for happiness?

Idioms for happiness are phrases that paint a vivid picture of pure joy. They add color and flair to our language, helping us express the happiness we feel in a more imaginative way.

Let’s dive into the meanings of these idioms and see how they can bring a smile to your face.

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Created by Dr. Julia Rossi

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1 / 20

What is a simile?

A) A comparison using "like" or "as".

B) A direct comparison without using "like" or "as".

C) An exaggerated statement.

D) A figure of speech that gives human qualities to non-human things.

2 / 20

Identify the simile in the following sentence: “She swims like a fish.”

A) She swims

B) like a fish

C) swims like

D) a fish

3 / 20

What is a metaphor?

A) A comparison that uses "like" or "as".

B) A direct comparison that does not use "like" or "as".

C) An expression that means something other than the literal meanings of its words.

D) A word that sounds like its meaning.

4 / 20

Which of the following is a metaphor?

A) He is as brave as a lion.

B) Her tears were a river flowing down her cheeks.

C) She runs like the wind.

D) He barked orders at his team.

5 / 20

What is an idiom?

A) A literal expression.

B) A comparison using "like" or "as".

C) A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.

D) A direct comparison without using "like" or "as".

6 / 20

What does the idiom “break the ice” mean?

A) To literally break ice.

B) To start a conversation in a social setting.

C) To cool down a situation.

D) To freeze something quickly.

7 / 20

What is an adjective?

A) A word that describes or modifies a noun.

B) A word that shows action.

C) A word that replaces a noun.

D) A word that connects words together.

8 / 20

Choose the adjective in the following sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

A) quick, brown

B) jumps

C) over

D) dog

9 / 20

What is an abbreviation?

A) A shortened form of a word or phrase.

B) A long form of a word.

C) A word used to describe another word.

D) A word used in place of a noun.

10 / 20

What does the abbreviation “e.g.” stand for?

A) End game

B) Exempli gratia (for example)

C) Ergo (therefore)

Estimated guess

11 / 20

What is a verb?

A) A word that describes a noun.

B) A word that indicates action, occurrence, or existence.

C) A word that connects two parts of a sentence.

D) A word that modifies a verb.

12 / 20

Identify the verb in the following sentence: “The cat sleeps on the sofa.”

A) The

B) cat

C) sleeps

D) sofa

13 / 20

“Out of the frying pan into the fire” is an example of:

A) A simile.

B) A metaphor.

C) An idiom.

D) An adjective.

14 / 20

Which of the following is an adjective?

A) Quickly

B) Beautiful

C) Run

D) Under

15 / 20

The abbreviation “NASA” stands for:

A) National Aeronautics and Space Administration

B) North American Space Agency

C) National Association of Space Astronauts

D) None of the above

16 / 20

Choose the metaphor in the following sentence: “Time is a thief.”

A) Time

B) is

C) a thief

D) None of the above

17 / 20

What does the idiom “hit the books” mean?

A) To physically hit books.

B) To start studying.

C) To write a book.

D) To organize books on a shelf.

18 / 20

Which of the following sentences contains a simile?

A) He is a shining star.

B) She danced like there was no tomorrow.

C) Life is a rollercoaster.

D) They moved mountains to be together.

19 / 20

“LOL” is an abbreviation for:

A) Lots Of Love

B) Little Old Lady

C) Long Overdue Library-book

D) Laugh Out Loud

20 / 20

Identify the verb in this sentence: “They whispered secrets into the night.”

A) They

B) secrets

C) whispered

D) night

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Metaphors can convey the essence of happiness, like comparing it to a warm ray of sunshine that brightens your day. To explore more metaphors for happiness, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Happiness. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make happiness more relatable, such as saying it’s as joyful as a child’s laughter. Discover additional similes for happiness here: Similes for Happiness.

Idioms for Happiness

1. On Cloud Nine

Meaning: Feeling extremely happy and content.

In a Sentence: After acing the test, Sarah was on cloud nine all day.

2. Walking on Air

Meaning: Feeling elated and light-hearted.

In a Sentence: Winning the championship had Tim walking on air for weeks.

3. Over the Moon

Meaning: Being extremely happy or delighted.

In a Sentence: Sally was over the moon when she received the surprise birthday party.

4. Jump for Joy

Meaning: To express happiness or excitement by leaping into the air.

In a Sentence: The kids jumped for joy when they heard about the snow day.

5. Tickled Pink

Meaning: Extremely pleased and delighted.

In a Sentence: Grandma was tickled pink when the whole family gathered for her birthday.

6. In High Spirits

Meaning: Feeling happy and lively.

In a Sentence: Despite the rainy weather, Emily remained in high spirits throughout the picnic.

7. Happy as a Clam

Meaning: Extremely happy and content.

In a Sentence: Louie felt happy as a clam after receiving a thank-you note for his kindness.

8. Like a Kid in a Candy Store

Meaning: Excited and delighted, like a child in a sweets shop.

In a Sentence: Exploring the toy store, Jenny was like a kid in a candy store.

9. Living the Good Life

Meaning: Enjoying a life of comfort and happiness.

In a Sentence: After years of hard work, Mark felt like he was finally living the good life.

10. Bursting with Joy

Meaning: Feeling so happy that it’s almost overwhelming.

In a Sentence: Sarah was bursting with joy when she found out she was accepted into her dream college.

11. On Top of the World

Meaning: Feeling extremely happy and successful.

In a Sentence: Winning the award made Tom feel on top of the world.

12. Grinning from Ear to Ear

Meaning: Smiling broadly and happily.

In a Sentence: Jake couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear after receiving the good news.

13. On a Roll

Meaning: Experiencing a series of successes.

In a Sentence: Ever since he started the new job, Michael felt like he was on a roll.

14. Full of the Joys of Spring

Meaning: Extremely happy and lively, like the arrival of spring.

In a Sentence: Even on Monday mornings, Mary is full of the joys of spring.

15. All Smiles

Meaning: In a very happy and positive mood.

In a Sentence: The team was all smiles after winning the championship.

16. In Seventh Heaven

Meaning: In a state of perfect happiness.

In a Sentence: After the proposal, Amanda felt like she was in seventh heaven.

17. On a High

Meaning: Feeling euphoric and excited.

In a Sentence: Mark was on a high after completing his first marathon.

18. Floating on Air

Meaning: Feeling light-hearted and elated.

In a Sentence: After the promotion, Lisa felt like she was floating on air.

19. Happy-Go-Lucky

Meaning: Cheerful and carefree.

In a Sentence: Despite life’s challenges, Sarah remains happy-go-lucky.

20. Riding the Wave

Meaning: Enjoying a period of success or happiness.

In a Sentence: Since the new project started, the team has been riding the wave of success.

21. Radiant with Happiness

Meaning: Glowing with joy and contentment.

In a Sentence: The bride looked radiant with happiness on her wedding day.

22. Pleased as Punch

Meaning: Extremely pleased and satisfied.

In a Sentence: James was pleased as punch with the surprise birthday party.

23. In Good Spirits

Meaning: Feeling happy and positive.

In a Sentence: Even during the tough times, Jenny remained in good spirits.

24. On a Sugar High

Meaning: Feeling excessively happy or hyperactive.

In a Sentence: The kids were on a sugar high after the birthday cake.

25. In a State of Bliss

Meaning: In a state of extreme happiness and joy.

In a Sentence: Relaxing on the beach, Rachel was in a state of bliss.

26. Dancing on Sunshine

Meaning: Feeling ecstatic and joyful.

In a Sentence: After the concert, Sarah felt like she was dancing on sunshine.

27. Beaming with Happiness

Meaning: Smiling brightly and radiating joy.

In a Sentence: Tom couldn’t stop beaming with happiness on his graduation day.

10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article

Quiz 1: On Cloud Nine

1. What does the idiom “On Cloud Nine” mean?
   a) Feeling extremely sad
   b) Feeling extremely happy and content
   c) Being indifferent
2. In which sentence was the idiom “On Cloud Nine” used?
   a) Sarah was on cloud nine all day after acing the test.
   b) Mark felt on cloud nine after losing the game.
   c) Emily was on cloud nine during the rainy picnic.

Quiz 2: Walking on Air

1. What does the idiom “Walking on Air” mean?
   a) Feeling heavy-hearted
   b) Feeling elated and light-hearted
   c) Being bored
2. When did Tim experience walking on air?
   a) After winning the championship
   b) After a long day at work
   c) During a rainy day

Quiz 3: Bursting with Joy

1. What does the idiom “Bursting with Joy” mean?
   a) Feeling empty and sad
   b) Feeling so happy that it’s almost overwhelming
   c) Being tired
2. Why was Sarah bursting with joy?
   a) After failing a test
   b) After acing the test
   c) After a boring day at school

Quiz 4: Grinning from Ear to Ear

1. What does the idiom “Grinning from Ear to Ear” mean?
   a) Smiling briefly
   b) Smiling broadly and happily
   c) Not smiling at all
2. When did Jake start grinning from ear to ear?
   a) After receiving bad news
   b) After receiving the good news
   c) During a dull moment

Quiz 5: Like a Kid in a Candy Store

1. What does the idiom “Like a Kid in a Candy Store” mean?
   a) Feeling bored
   b) Feeling excited and delighted, like a child in a sweets shop
   c) Feeling sad and disappointed
2. Who was like a kid in a candy store?
   a) Jenny at a toy store
   b) Mark at a library
   c) Tim at a hardware store

Quiz 6: Radiant with Happiness

1. What does the idiom “Radiant with Happiness” mean?
   a) Glowing in the dark
   b) Smiling faintly
   c) Glowing with joy and contentment
2. When did the bride look radiant with happiness?
   a) During a stormy day
   b) On her wedding day
   c) After a quarrel

Quiz 7: Happy as a Clam

1. What does the idiom “Happy as a Clam” mean?
   a) Feeling grumpy
   b) Feeling extremely happy and content
   c) Feeling lonely
2. When was Louie happy as a clam?
   a) After a disappointing event
   b) After receiving a thank-you note
   c) During a boring day

Quiz 8: Riding the Wave

1. What does the idiom “Riding the Wave” mean?
   a) Experiencing a series of failures
   b) Experiencing a period of success or happiness
   c) Being indifferent to success
2. When was the team riding the wave of success?
   a) After a project failure
   b) Since the new project started
   c) During a period of inactivity

Quiz 9: On Top of the World

1. What does the idiom “On Top of the World” mean?
   a) Feeling sad and lonely
   b) Feeling extremely happy and successful
   c) Feeling indifferent to success
2. When did Tom feel on top of the world?
   a) After losing a competition
   b) After winning an award
   c) After a boring day at work

Quiz 10: In a State of Bliss

1. What does the idiom “In a State of Bliss” mean?
   a) Feeling angry and frustrated
   b) In a state of extreme happiness and joy
   c) Feeling indifferent to happiness
2. When was Rachel in a state of bliss?
   a) During a hectic day at work
   b) After relaxing on the beach
   c) After a stressful event

Conclusion

Next time you’re over the moon or walking on air, remember these idioms for happiness. They add a touch of creativity to our expressions, making our joyful moments even more memorable.