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like a kid in a candy store

like a kid in a candy store

3 7.2
Very excited and happy because there are many things to choose from
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : como un niño en una tienda de dulces
  • I felt like a kid in a candy store when I entered the toy store full of bright colors and fun games.
  • feel like a kid in a candy store
  • say like a kid in a candy store

And, and so I'm always like, like a kid in a candy store just going crazy.

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Examples

  • She is like a kid in a candy store in America.

    Blog text (10)
  • And after months of traveling with only a few pairs of shoes, I was like a kid in a candy store thanks to Luiza!

    Blog text (16)
  • You really did feel like a kid in a candy store.

  • I was like a kid in a candy store.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Look at you, you're like a kid in a candy store.

  • For Romney's part, he almost looked like a kid in a candy store.

    Blog text (13)
  • I was once again like a kid in a candy store, seeing all these people reading and flipping pages of their printed papers.

    Blog text (27)
  • The best part is when Yela stands back and looks at the crowd and he has this smile on his face, like a kid in a candy store.

    Blog text (2)
  • I think this was everyone's first time on a moving Link train, so the reactions were pretty much universally like kids in a candy store.

    Blog text (9)
  • Seriously, I felt like a kid in a candy store—there were so many colors, textures, and shapes.

    Blog text (3)

Synonyms

excited
vslike a kid in a candy store
1.0

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is specifically happy because many appealing options are available
enthusiastic
vslike a kid in a candy store
175 2.7

Very excited and interested in something

is more childlike joy about many appealing choices rather than focused interest
thrilled
vslike a kid in a candy store
171 2.3

Feeling very excited and happy

is excited by numerous appealing options rather than only intense feeling
ecstatic
vslike a kid in a candy store
69 4.5

Feeling very happy and excited

matches strong joy but usually emphasizes excitement from many options
on air
vslike a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
9 5.9

Feeling very happy and excited

is focused on joy from many appealing choices rather than general elation
exhilarated
vslike a kid in a candy store
2 4.4

Feeling very happy and full of energy

has the same energy but is tied to many choices joyfully
like a kid on Christmas morning
vslike a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
1 8.3

Very excited and happy like a child who gets presents

is about excitement caused by many appealing choices rather than gifts
happy as a pig in mud
vslike a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
1 8.2

Feeling very happy and content

is joyful because abundance of appealing options rather than mere contentment
like a kid on a rollercoaster
vslike a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
8.3

Very excited and happy in an obvious way

is about excitement from many choices not from a single thrilling event
buzzed with excitement
vslike a kid in a candy store
4.7

Full of lively energy because people feel excited

is driven by many appealing choices rather than general lively energy
as happy as a jaybird
vslike a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
7.5

Feeling very pleased and full of joy

is similar in happiness but less about excited reaction to many choices

Antonyms

527 1.0

Unhappy because something you hoped for did not happen

463 1.0

Feeling sad or not pleased about something

How Excited

like a kid in a candy store
  • Informal
3 7.2
thrilled
171 2.3
excited
1.0
happy
1.0
pleased
936 1.0
calm
735 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

like + a + kid + in + a + candy + store

The phrase creates a clear, literal image—being like a child in a shop full of sweets—so a learner who knows 'kid', 'candy', and 'store' can infer it means feeling extremely excited about many appealing choices. This image-based composition is cross-linguistically common and follows straightforward compositional semantics, making the meaning accessible to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

The idiom like a kid in a candy store shows a picture of a kid in a candy store, happily surrounded by lots of sweets to choose from. So, the phrase means 'extremely excited and happy', especially when there are many good choices.