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Meaning & use

cloud nine

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌklaʊd ˈnaɪn/
US/ˌklaʊd ˈnaɪn/

Meaning

  1. phraseidiominformal

    A state of great happiness and delight, usually after good news.

    Grammar: Used in the phrase on cloud nine, not in cloud nine.

    Patterns

    • be on cloud nine
    • float on cloud nine

    She was on cloud nine after hearing she had won the scholarship.

    He stayed on cloud nine for weeks after the wedding.

    The whole team was on cloud nine after the big win.

Common combinations

on cloud nine
They were on cloud nine after the baby arrived.
float on cloud nine
I felt as if I could float on cloud nine all day.
still on cloud nine
A week later, he was still on cloud nine.
leave someone on cloud nine
The compliment left her on cloud nine.
be on cloud nine about
He was on cloud nine about his promotion.

Synonyms and how they differ

over the moon
Over the moon is a very close idiom and is especially British, while on cloud nine is more widely used.
elated
Elated is a single formal adjective for great joy, and on cloud nine is warmer and more casual.
on top of the world
On top of the world suggests feeling powerful and successful, whereas on cloud nine is more about dreamy delight.
ecstatic
Ecstatic describes a stronger, more intense burst of joy than the gentler floating feeling of cloud nine.

Opposites

down in the dumps

Word family

cloud noun
a mass of water droplets in the sky
cloudy adjective
full of clouds

Commonly confused: cloud nine or in the clouds?

cloud nine vs in the clouds

In the clouds means not paying attention or dreaming. On cloud nine means very happy.

Practice

After the news about her exam results, she was ____ cloud nine.

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