Idioms related to...

Happiness
Exercise 1: Read the example sentences below and try to guess the meaning of the phrases.

on cloud nine have a whale of a time

Suzie’s been on cloud nine since she got offered a place We went to Disneyland while we were on holiday and
in Harvard. I’m delighted for her. had a whale of a time. You should go.

on top of the world in one’s element

Dan: How did you feel after you won?
Sam: I had trained my whole life for that race, so I was
on top of the world.
over the moon
Jim asked me to marry him on Sunday, and I’m over
the moon! I can’t wait to plan the wedding.
tickled pink
Andre: Was Anne happy with her present?
Jackie: Yeah, she was tickled pink.
Helen is in her element in university, she loves her
course and she’s doing very well in her exams.
thrilled to bits/pieces
Matt: Joe must be very happy with his new car.
Greg: Yeah, he’s thrilled to bits!
full of the joys of spring
Maria: He was walking down the street, full of the joys
of spring.
David: I wonder why he’s so happy.

Exercise 2: Cover the examples above. Can you remember the missing words from the idioms?

1. I was THRILLED to bits/pieces when I heard I’d won first prize.

2. Philippe was in his ELEMENT, DJing at the party last night. The crowd loved his tunes too.
3. Rebecca is full of the joys of SPRING these days. I wonder has she got a new boyfriend.
4. He has just got married to a lovely guy and his business is thriving. He’s on top of the WORLD.
5. Kasim is having a WHALE of a time in Crete. He doesn’t want to come home.
6. My brother just got offered an amazing job with Google. He’s TICKLED pink.
7. Sara just found out that she’s pregnant. She’s on cloud NINE. They’ve been trying for ages.
8. I was OVER the moon when I discovered I’d won the lottery, but it’s true what they say about money
not buying happiness.

Exercise 3: Let’s practise!

Work with your partner and write three or four mini dialogues using some of the expressions you have
learnt. See the example below:

A: Tom was given a pay rise in work.

B: That’s fantastic. He must be over the moon!

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