What would you say when you’re happy or excited about something? When you feel a sense of happiness, do you ever want to share it with others? Well, Christopher McCandless said it best, “Happiness is only real when shared”. It’s our human nature to share our feelings with others, or simply to freely express our emotions. So today we’re going to learn some common English vocabulary about happiness and joy so that you can share your feelings with others easily. Now, let’s get started!
1. Vocabulary (Synonyms)
- Blissful (a): If you feel blissful, you’re extremely or completely happy
For example:
We spent a blissful week together.
- Elated (a): Extremely happy and excited, often because something has happened or been achieved.
For example:
He felt elated and excited when winning the contest.
- Content/ Contented (a): Pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement.
For example:
He seems content with his life.
- Cheerful (a): Happy and positive.
For example:
She manages to stay cheerful despite everything.
- Glad (a): Pleased and happy
For example:
I’m glad that you came to visit us.
- Pleased (a): Happy or satisfied.
For example:
I’m pleased to hear you’re feeling better, John.
- Delighted (a): Very pleased
For example:
I’m delighted to hear that you’ll visit us this weekend.
- Gleeful (a): Full of joy, delighted.
For example:
She gave a gleeful giggle.
- In a good mood (phrase): A cheerful state of mind.
For example:
When the boss is in a good mood, our whole day goes well.
- Upbeat (a): Full of hope and happiness.
For example:
For all the trouble she’s been through, Anna remains remarkably upbeat.
- Overjoyed (a): Extremely happy.
For example:
Linda was overjoyed to hear that she had passed the exam.
- Thrilled (a): Extremely happy about something
For example:
I was thrilled that so many people turned up to the party.
2. Common Idioms
- Cry out of happiness: Cry when we are happy.
For example:
She cried out of happiness when he proposed to her.
- On cloud nine: A person who is on cloud nine is very happy because something wonderful has happened.
For example:
When the boss announced my promotion, I was on cloud nine.
- On top of the world: If someone is on top of the world, they are blissfully or triumphantly happy.
For example:
I was on top of the world when I found out that I’d gotten an A on my hardest exam.
- Fool’s paradise: a state of enjoyment based on false beliefs or hopes; a state of illusory happiness.
For example:
They were living in a fool’s paradise, refusing to accept that they were in debt.
- Full of the joys of spring: happy and full of energy.
For example:
I was full of the joys of spring when I found out that I’d gotten an A on my hardest exam.
- Grin from ear to ear: to have a broad, enthusiastic smile.
For example:
The kids ran around the beach in a happy frenzy, both of them grinning from ear to ear.
- Happy camper: Someone who is happy with their situation.
For example:
With his new job and his new car, Andy is a happy camper.
- Happy as Larry: If you are (as) happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed.
For example:
My dad’s as happy as Larry at the weekend when we all arrive home.
- Happy-go-lucky: If you are a happy-go-lucky person, you are cheerful and carefree all the time.
For example:
He’s a happy-go-lucky sort of guy – always in good humor.
- Jump for joy: to be extremely happy and pleased.
For example:
The player jumped for joy when he scored the winning goal.
- Life is just a bowl of cherries: Life is wonderful or very pleasant.
For example:
I got a promotion and got engaged in the span of a week! Life is just a bowl of cherries these days!
- Music to your ears: If something is music to your ears, the information that you receive makes you feel very happy.
For example:
His compliments were music to my ear.
- Over the moon: If you are over the moon about something, you are very happy about it.
For example:
When she heard the results of the exam, Caroline was over the moon!
- In raptures (about/over): If you are in raptures about something, you are delighted or very enthusiastic.
For example:
Caroline was in raptures about/over her first visit to Paris.
- Stars in one’s eyes: If someone has stars in their eyes, they are looking extremely happy.
For example:
Anne has stars in her eyes, she wants to go to Hollywood.
- In seventh heaven: If you are in seventh heaven, you are extremely happy.
For example:
Every time she wins a match, she’s in seventh heaven!
- In stitches: When people are in stitches, they are laughing a lot.
For example:
Jerry is the funniest guy I know. He can have you in stitches in a matter of minutes.
- Thrilled to bits: Someone who is thrilled to bits is extremely pleased about something.
For example:
Julie was thrilled to bits when her parents gave her a car on her birthday.
- Time of your life: If you have the time of our life, you enjoy yourself very much.
For example:
The kids had the time of their lives at Disneyland.
- Walking on air: When you are happy and excited because of a pleasant event that makes you feel as if you are floating, you are walking on air.
For example:
Ann was walking on air when she got the job.
- Whatever floats your boat: Although you don’t quite agree with someone, it’s their choice and you think they should do whatever makes them happy.
For example:
You’re going to spend your honeymoon in Alaska? Well, whatever floats your boat!
We’ve just learned a number of English vocabulary about happiness and joy. Now you can easily share your happiness with others in different ways.
Or even better, you can use eJOY extension to save any useful phrases and idioms to your wordbook with only a click! You can look up and learn any vocabulary on Youtube, Netflix and Online Articles that you want to master! It’s definitely a “piece of cake”, isn’t it?