Have you ever experienced a feeling of total euphoria? Perhaps you are falling in love and need a way to describe the feeling of being lighter than air. If so, the idiom over the moon is an apt expression that explains just how you feel. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase over the moon refers to a feeling of intense happiness. It can also stand to mean that someone is delighted or pleased with a situation. A general feeling of pleasure or a heightened state of delight can also be considered “over the moon”. Any experience that is overwhelmingly pleasurable or marked by intense elation holds the same meaning as over the moon.
Most modern usages of the phrase follow the same basic meaning, however, it is most often used to describe love. For example, it is often said that she was over the moon in love with her beau. Or, he was over the moon when she accepted his proposal. The phrase can and is still used to convey the feeling of extreme happiness outside of love or amorous feelings.
Example Usage
“When my name was called for the managerial position, I was over the moon with joy”.
“The kindergarten class was over the moon with excitement when they heard Clifford would visit their class today”.
“The marching band was over the moon at having been selected to perform at the Super Bowl this year”.
“The best way to describe how I felt when we closed on our new home is being over the moon”.
Origin
The phrase over the moon can be traced back to the start of the 1700s. The first known use of the phrase was penned by a well-known writer at the time named Charles Molloy. In 1718, he wrote a book called The English Chevalier, though in some places it was titled The Coquet. In one section of the print, the phrase “Tis he! I know him now: I shall jump over the Moon for Joy!” is found. In this way, the phrase became synonymous with the feeling of elation or extreme happiness.
The phrase was used liberally throughout history while maintaining the same meaning. In fact, it made its way into a well-known nursery rhyme “hey diddle diddle”. In the rhyme, the cow in the story jumps over the moon as a way to express delight and share that delight with listeners.
Around the middle of the 1970s in Britain, football managers started using the phrase following successful matches. Even in modern times when a team wins a match in British Football, the managers will make use of the phrase over the moon. Outside of Britain, the phrase is still used to express vivid positive emotions.
Phrases Similar to Over The Moon
- Overjoyed
- Elated
- Delighted
- Euphoric
- Thrilled
- Jubilant
Phrases Opposite to Over The Moon
- Sad
- Disappointed
- Upset
- Sorrowful
- Unhappy
- Depressed
What is the Correct Saying?
- The proper way to say the phrase is – over the moon.
Ways People May Incorrectly Say Over The Moon
Some ways that over the moon is used incorrectly are:
- Losing your job is a good reason to feel over the moon these days.
- If you look over the moon it is easy to learn in which direction you are traveling.
- The way to Neverland is just over the moon there yonder.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Over The Moon
Some ways that over the moon is used correctly are:
- When the family learned about the upcoming trip to Disneyland, they were over the moon with joy.
- My grandma was over the moon when she learned that John proposed to Mary over the weekend.
- It has been a long road from where he started to where he is today. We are over the moon with his progress so far.
- The feeling of losing all that weight after working hard for years will leave you over the moon with your accomplishments.