PhrasesHub

Be on cloud nine

    Definitions

      • happiness or euphoria
        To express a state of extreme joy or bliss

      • obliviousness or detachment
        To describe someone who is completely unaware of their surroundings or reality, often due to being lost in their thoughts or fantasies

      • extreme satisfaction or contentment
        To convey a sense of complete satisfaction or fulfillment with a particular situation or accomplishment

    Examples of Be on cloud nine

    • After acing the exam, Sarah was on cloud nine.

      This idiom is used to describe a state of extreme happiness or elation. It originates from the idea that being in a state of extreme happiness would make a person feel as if they were floating on a cloud, which is a fluffy white mass in the sky. In Sarah's case, she felt so happy after doing well on her exam that she felt like she was floating on a cloud, which is represented by the phrase "on cloud nine".

    • The team's performance in the championship game left them on cloud nine for weeks.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a prolonged state of happiness. After winning the championship game, the team was so happy that they remained in a state of extreme happiness for weeks, which is represented by the phrase "on cloud nine".

    • After receiving the job offer, Jack was on cloud nine all day.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a specific period of time. After receiving the job offer, Jack was so happy that he remained in a state of extreme happiness all day, which is represented by the phrase "on cloud nine".

    • The news of their engagement left the couple on cloud nine.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a shared experience. After receiving the news of their engagement, both the bride and groom were so happy that they felt like they were floating on a cloud, which is represented by the phrase "on cloud nine".

    • The singer's performance left the audience on cloud nine.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe the experience of others. After the singer's performance, the audience was so happy that they felt like they were floating on a cloud, which is represented by the phrase "on cloud nine".


    Conclusion

    The idiom "be on cloud nine" is used to express a range of emotions, all related to a state of extreme happiness or satisfaction. It can be used to describe someone who is overjoyed, completely unaware of their surroundings, or feeling content and fulfilled.

    This idiom is often used in a figurative sense, as "cloud nine" is not a physical place that one can actually be on. It is believed to have originated from the idea of being on the ninth cloud in the sky, which was considered the highest and most heavenly place to be. Therefore, being on cloud nine symbolizes being on top of the world, in a state of bliss and euphoria.

    Origin of "Be on cloud nine"

    The exact origin of this idiom is unknown, but it is believed to have originated in the United States in the early 1900s. It was first recorded in a book by a psychologist in 1956, where it was described as a slang term commonly used by teenagers at the time.

    Some theories suggest that the idiom may have been influenced by other phrases such as "seventh heaven" or "cloud cuckoo land", which also describe a state of happiness or detachment from reality. Others believe it may have originated from the idea of being on cloud nine as a metaphor for being on top of the world, similar to the expression "on top of the world".

    Regardless of its exact origin, the idiom "be on cloud nine" remains a popular and colorful way to express extreme happiness and contentment.