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Glite Dictionary
to walk on air

to walk on air

1 3.8
To feel very happy and excited
  • idiom
translation icon : estar en las nubes
  • I'm so glad to be home, I could walk on air.

If if we make just one little discovery walk on air day.

Examples

  • I can walk on air!

    Lisztomania (1975)

  • After receiving the good news, I felt like I could walk on air for the rest of the day.

  • If we'd make just one little discovery... ...we'd walk on air for days.

    You Can't Take It with You (1938)

  • Winning the championship made the whole team walk on air during the parade.

  • Her promotion at work left her so thrilled that she could walk on air.

Synonyms

excited
vsto walk on air
∞ 1.0

Feeling very happy and eager about something

is more purely extreme happiness rather than general eagerness
thrilled
vsto walk on air
171 2.3

Feeling very excited and happy

is a steady deep happiness rather than a sudden sharp excitement
joyful
vsto walk on air
70 1.0

Feeling or showing great happiness

is the same positive state but may lack extreme intensity
ecstatic
vsto walk on air
69 4.5

Feeling very happy and excited

is equally happy but usually less overwhelming in intensity
elated
vsto walk on air
11 4.0

Feeling very happy and excited because of good news or success

is similar in intensity but not always tied to success
on air
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
9 5.9

Feeling very happy and excited

is the same state but phrased as a vivid action
to fly high
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
8 3.8

To feel very happy and successful after a big achievement

is the same joy but not primarily about achievement
to exult
vsto walk on air
  • Formal
6 7.0

Feel or show great joy after a success

is general extreme happiness not tied mainly to victory
rapturous
vsto walk on air
6 7.0

Feeling or showing great joy and excitement

is similar but focuses more on pure happiness than admiration
to jump for joy
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
6 2.5

Move or jump because you are very happy

is the internal feeling itself rather than visible celebration
to be on cloud nine
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
5 4.6

To feel very happy and excited

is the same feeling but framed as a movement metaphor
exhilarated
vsto walk on air
2 4.4

Feeling very happy and full of energy

is the same happiness but not necessarily energetic
on cloud nine
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
2 4.1

Feeling very happy and excited

is the same feeling but uses a different idiomatic image
high on life
vsto walk on air
  • Slang
2 7.5

Feeling very happy and excited for no clear reason

is similar but does not emphasize lack of external reason
walking on sunshine
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
1 8.1

To feel very happy and excited

is the same internal joy but uses a different bodily image
walking on air
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
1 3.7

Feeling very happy and excited

is identical in meaning but expressed as an action image
spring in someone's step
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
1 4.9

An energetic way of walking that shows happiness or confidence

is the inner feeling itself rather than an outward gait sign
uplifted
vsto walk on air
3.9

Feeling happy and proud because something made you feel better

is pure elation rather than pride or inspiration
like a kid on a rollercoaster
vsto walk on air
  • Informal
8.3

Very excited and happy in an obvious way

is the same happiness but usually less restrained and more showy

Antonyms

miserable
443 1.8

Feeling very unhappy or suffering a lot

depressed
441 3.5

Feeling very sad and without hope

How Happy

ecstatic
69 4.5
to walk on air
1 3.8
happy
∞ 1.0
pleased
936 1.0
content
87 1.0

Surface Forms

walk on air infinitive
walked on air past
walked on air past participle
walking on air present participle
walks on air third person singular

Morphology

walk + on + air

The meaning 'to feel extremely happy' is a metaphorical extension of the literal parts: 'walk' + 'on' + 'air' create an image of lightness and elevation that plausibly maps to elation. This connection is interpretable by learners who know the words (and similar metaphors exist cross-linguistically), but it is figurative rather than strictly compositional, so prior exposure helps—making it only partially predictable.

Etymology

Walk on air comes from a simple picture: you feel so light and happy that you seem to walk on the air instead of the ground. That's why it means 'to feel extremely happy'.