to jump for joy
6
2.5
- idiom
- Informal
:
saltar de alegría
- Oh, I'm so happy I could jump for joy!
Examples
-
The children jumped for joy when they saw their birthday presents.
-
And then the next moment you're just jumping for joy.
Blog text (14) -
If you meet one of these types, jump for joy.
Blog text (28) -
If you prove me wrong, I'll jump for joy.
Fiction book (2000) -
I know plenty of women who would be jumping for joy right now.
-
I nearly jumped for joy.
Fiction book (1996) -
I'm so happy, I'm jumping for joy.
-
When the ASM told me, they were practically jumping for joy.
Blog text (6) -
I jumped for joy and again nearly leaped over the desk to hug the doctor!
Blog text (32) -
When the mail came, I jumped for joy over the Downton Abbey DVD and jars of Barney Butter I ordered!
Blog text (7)
Synonyms
141
1.0
To move suddenly by jumping, leaping, or bouncing
107
1.0
A jump through the air or a sudden strong feeling
77
1.0
To move by light hops in a playful way
41
1.0
A quick small jump often on one foot
33
1.8
A repeated movement where both feet leave the ground to show excitement
8
3.8
To feel very happy and successful after a big achievement
6
7.0
Feel or show great joy after a success
5
4.6
To feel very happy and excited
3
5.1
To jump or skip around in a lively, playful way
1
3.7
Feeling very happy and excited
1
8.4
To feel or show great joy, for example after a big win
1
3.8
To feel very happy and excited
How Happy
- Informal
6
2.5
∞
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'jump' (leap), 'for' (because of/purpose), and 'joy' (happiness) combine to indicate jumping because of happiness. This composition is common cross-linguistically (e.g. French 'sauter de joie', Spanish 'saltar de alegría'), so a B1 learner who knows the words would reliably infer the idiomatic sense.
Etymology
The phrase jump for joy comes from the simple picture of someone so happy they actually jump up and down with joy. So, the phrase means 'to show great happiness'.