Idioms to talk about happiness

In English, there are loads of different ways to express happiness. Many of these are interesting idioms or expressions. So, if you want to show people how happy you are in English, read the following tips..

Metaphors

A metaphor is a type of idiom where we replace what we are talking about with another for dramatic emphasis. To show you are really happy with a metaphor, you could say something like ‘I’m on cloud nine‘ or ‘I’m over the moon!‘ Even if, like most of us, you haven’t been to the moon, you can still use that idiom.

Similes

In a simile we compare one thing to another using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make our language more expressive. So, if you’re really happy, you could say something like ‘I’m as happy as a pig in mud‘ or ‘I’m as happy as Larry‘. I’m not sure who Larry is, the name is just part of the idiom, now. I guess he must have been a pretty happy guy, though.

Action idioms

Other ways to describe happiness in English are more general idioms related to the actions a person might take when happy. For example, when a big smile comes onto your face, you might say you are ‘grinning from ear to ear‘ or if you are very excited, you might be ‘jumping up and down with excitement‘.