gate-happy

9.6

Feeling very excited while waiting to travel, especially at an airport

adjective
/ɡeɪtˈhæpi/

Informal

: emocionado por viajar

She felt gate-happy as she waited to board her plane for a new adventure.

Examples

His gate-happy grin made the long layover much more enjoyable for everyone.
The children grew gate-happy every time they passed through an airport.
The children were gate-happy as they boarded the plane.
She felt gate-happy when she saw the departure board.
She felt gate-happy as she waited eagerly at the airport for her flight to Paris.
His gate-happy energy was contagious, making everyone around him excited for the trip ahead.
The family was gate-happy while checking in for their long-awaited holiday to Hawaii.

Synonyms

pumped

vsgate-happy

Informal

6.9

Very excited and full of energy about something

is excited specifically about travel or being at an airport

How Excited

thrilled

171 2.3

gate-happy

Informal

9.6

excited

∞ 1.0

cheerful

111 1.0

calm

735 1.0

Surface Forms

gate-happy positive

gate-happier comparative

gate-happiest superlative

Morphology

gate-happy = gate + happy (semi-transparent) = gate + happy

The components 'gate' + 'happy' are clear, but the slangy, travel-specific sense ('excited about traveling/at the airport') is specialized and not fully predictable for all learners.

Etymology

The word gate-happy joins gate, the place where you wait at an airport, and happy ('joyful'). So it describes someone who becomes excited about traveling while they wait to board.