- An idiom meaning extremely happy, delighted, or thrilled about something.
Explanation
Origin
- This phrase likely comes from the nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle, where the cow jumped over the moon.
- This impossible feat symbolizes immense joy or exuberance, hence being over the moon means being so happy you could achieve the impossible.
- It became popular in the UK, particularly in sports contexts (e.g., footballers describing winning a match), and then spread more widely.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Stoked (Especially US/Aus surf/skate culture origin, means very excited/enthusiastic)
- Pumped (Excited, energized)
- Buzzing (UK/Aus, excited, high-spirited)
- Chuffed (UK, pleased, delighted)
- Gassed (US slang, excited, hyped up)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fuckin' ecstatic
- Happy as shit (Crude, but common)
- Pleased as fuck
Milder:
- Really happy
- Thrilled
- Delighted
- Very pleased
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- Perfectly fine in most everyday conversations, but might sound slightly colloquial or cliché in very formal writing or speeches.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Unlikely to be misunderstood due to its common usage and clear positive context.
- The literal meaning (being physically above the moon) is nonsensical.
Examples
- She was over the moon when she got the job offer.
- He's over the moon about becoming a father.
- We were over the moon with the results.
Dialogue
Anna: You look pleased with yourself!
Ben: I am! I just got my exam results back.
Anna: And? How did you do?
Ben: I passed everything, with top marks in physics! I'm over the moon!
Anna: Wow, Ben, that's amazing! Congratulations!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just got accepted into my dream university! Absolutely over the moon right now! 🎉 #grateful #university #happy
- Instagram Caption: He proposed, and I said YES! Feeling completely over the moon. 💍❤️ #engaged #sohappy #love
- Facebook Post: Our team won the championship! We're all over the moon! Thanks for all the support! 🏆 #winners #champions #celebration
Response Patterns
- That's wonderful! What happened?
- I'm so happy for you!
- Wow, congratulations!
- What are you so happy about?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says they are over the moon:
- People usually ask for the reason: Oh yeah? Why?, What's the good news?, What happened?.
- They often express shared happiness: That's fantastic!, I'm thrilled for you!.
After someone responds to the news:
- The happy person might share more details: Yeah, I just found out that...
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Usually used to describe one's own or someone else's emotional state in response to an event, not typically to start a conversation out of the blue.
Intonation
- Emphasis typically falls on O-ver the MOON.
- The overall intonation is usually high and cheerful, reflecting the positive emotion.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood across generations, though perhaps slightly more common among older generations (30+).
- Younger generations might opt for simpler terms like super happy or stoked.
Regional Variations
- Very common in British English.
- Understood and used in American English, but perhaps less frequently than alternatives like thrilled or ecstatic.
- Also common in other Commonwealth countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada).