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happy-go-lucky

happy-go-lucky

12 6.1
A person who is cheerful and does not worry about future problems
  • adjective
  • /ˌhæpi ɡoʊ ˈlʌki/
translation icon : despreocupado
  • She is a happy-go-lucky person who enjoys life without worrying about the future.
  • happy-go-lucky guy
  • happy-go-lucky kid
  • happy-go-lucky person

For starters, I have had a great life and I'm a very happy go lucky geezer by default.

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Examples

  • Wetherby Goode was a husky, happy-go-lucky fellow, always ready for an adventure—no questions asked.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Most of the people who know me would think that I am a very happy-go-lucky type of girl.

    Blog text (6)
  • But I think in general, people saw that I was, I was this normal guy, family man and, you know, happy go lucky crazy.

  • So the other parent gets to be the happy go lucky parent and the fun parent.

  • You know, you used to be such a happy-go-lucky fellow.

  • While I'm a pretty happy-go-lucky kind of person, sometimes I can be shy.

    Blog text (1)
  • Every day, his huge smile and his happy-go-lucky optimism filled my classroom.

    Blog text (8)
  • Speedy was there, and he was his usual happy-go-lucky self.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "And Dennis," he said, "was what you'd call happy-go-lucky."

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Normally a happy-go-lucky person, this is a hard mindset for me to accept—but I do.

    Blog text (29)

Synonyms

carefree
vshappy-go-lucky
41 2.9

Not feeling worried or responsible

is cheerfully unconcerned about future consequences with added irresponsibility
freewheeling
vshappy-go-lucky
  • Informal
6 6.3

Behaving without strict rules and doing what you want

is cheerfully unconcerned about consequences rather than rule breaking
devil-may-care
vshappy-go-lucky
  • Informal
4 8.1

Not caring about danger or the bad results of actions

is cheerfully unconcerned about future effects rather than simply reckless
slaphappy
vshappy-go-lucky
  • Informal
8.4

Acting cheerful and not careful about work or duties

is cheerfully unconcerned about future outcomes rather than lighthearted recklessness
harum-scarum
vshappy-go-lucky
  • Archaic
9.9

Careless and lively in a way that causes trouble

is cheerfully unconcerned rather than acting in wild impetuous ways
Pollyannaish
vshappy-go-lucky
9.9

Being too hopeful about things and not seeing clear problems

is cheerfully unconcerned about consequences rather than merely optimistic
Pollyannish
vshappy-go-lucky
9.9

Being very hopeful even when things seem bad

is cheerfully unconcerned about future risks rather than persistent optimism
Panglossian
vshappy-go-lucky
  • Literature
9.9

A person who is very optimistic in a way that ignores real problems

is cheerfully unconcerned about consequences rather than ignoring problems

Antonyms

1.0

Feeling nervous or upset about something that may go wrong

973 2.4

In charge of someone or something and must take care of it

How Carefree

happy-go-lucky
12 6.1
carefree
41 2.9
easygoing
22 2.6
relaxed
241 1.0

Surface Forms

happy-go-lucky positive

Morphology

happy-go-lucky = happy + go + lucky (semi-transparent) = happy + go + lucky

The components 'happy' and 'lucky' are clear but the linking 'go' is an idiomatic connective and the overall sense 'carefree' is somewhat idiomatic rather than a straightforward sum of the parts.

Etymology

Happy-go-lucky comes from putting three simple words together: happy ('feeling good'), go ('move') and lucky ('fortunate'), so picture someone who just moves through life smiling and trusting things will work out. That's why happy-go-lucky means 'carefree' and not worried about the future.