on cloud nine
2
4.1
- idiom
- Informal
:
en las nubes
- She was on cloud nine after receiving the good news about her promotion.
Examples
-
You look like you're on cloud nine.
Fiction book (1993) -
She's floating on cloud nine.
Fiction book (1996) -
And we on cloud nine for that minute
-
I got on cloud nine, and here I am.
-
Everyone was riding on cloud nine.
-
Rush will be on cloud nine.
Blog text (15) -
- I'm on cloud nine.
-
I was on cloud nine, and I felt an amazing sense of accomplishment.
Blog text (23) -
He exclaimed, 'I feel like I'm on cloud nine!' when he found out he won the lottery.
-
After spending a wonderful day at the amusement park, the children were all on cloud nine.
Synonyms
13
4.9
Feeling very happy and excited because something good happened
9
5.9
Feeling very happy and excited
8
3.8
To feel very happy and successful after a big achievement
5
4.6
To feel very happy and excited
2
4.4
Feeling very happy and full of energy
1
3.7
Feeling very happy and excited
1
5.5
Feeling very pleased and excited
1
3.8
To feel very happy and excited
Very excited and happy in an obvious way
Antonyms
How Happy
Surface Forms
Morphology
The image of being 'on' a 'cloud' evokes elevation and lightness which can suggest a positive mood, but the numeral 'nine' is arbitrary and the exact meaning 'extremely happy/elated' is an idiomatic extension rather than a straightforward composition. A B1 learner who knows the individual words might infer a general positive or dreamy state but would not reliably derive the specific sense of strong elation without prior exposure.
Etymology
The idiom on cloud nine may come from an old idea that clouds were counted and the nine cloud was the highest, softest place to float above the world. So, saying someone is on cloud nine means they are 'extremely happy'.