be tickled pink

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   to be extremely pleased or happy about something.

   Grammar: Used with be: I was tickled pink. You can also say something tickles someone pink, with the person as the object.

   Patterns

   • be tickled pink about something
   • be tickled pink to do something
   • be tickled pink that ...
   • something tickles someone pink

   She was tickled pink when her old friend called out of the blue.

   I'm tickled pink about the new job — it's exactly what I wanted.

   He was tickled pink to hear that his daughter had passed her exams.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   to be very amused by something; to find something funny.

   Grammar: Often followed by by or at when you name what caused the amusement.

   Patterns

   • be tickled pink by something
   • be tickled pink at something

   The whole audience was tickled pink by his silly jokes.

   I was tickled pink at the way the puppy chased its own tail.

Common combinations

absolutely tickled pink

Grandma was absolutely tickled pink with the surprise party.

tickled pink to hear

We were tickled pink to hear you're coming to visit.

tickled pink about the news

The team was tickled pink about the news of the promotion.

tickled pink by the gesture

She was tickled pink by the gesture and thanked everyone.

Synonyms and how they differ

thrilled

Thrilled is a little more formal and stronger; it works in both speech and writing, while tickled pink is relaxed and informal.

delighted

Delighted is a polite, slightly formal word for being very pleased; tickled pink is warmer and more casual.

over the moon

Over the moon is also informal and means extremely happy, often about good news; it is common in British English.

Commonly confused: be tickled pink or tickle?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “be tickled pink”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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