happy-go-lucky person

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Someone who stays cheerful and does not worry much about what may happen.

   Grammar: Used like an adjective before a noun or after be: a happy-go-lucky person, or He's happy-go-lucky.

   Patterns

   • a happy-go-lucky person
   • be happy-go-lucky
   • feel happy-go-lucky

   My cousin is a happy-go-lucky person who never seems stressed.

   She's happy-go-lucky and takes each day as it comes.

   He was a happy-go-lucky teenager who spent his summers traveling.

2. 2phrasebefore a nouninformal

   Describing a way of living that is relaxed about plans, money, or the future.

   Grammar: Often comes before a noun such as life, attitude, or approach: a happy-go-lucky attitude.

   Patterns

   • a happy-go-lucky attitude
   • a happy-go-lucky approach to something
   • a happy-go-lucky lifestyle

   They have a happy-go-lucky attitude to saving money.

   His happy-go-lucky approach to work sometimes annoys his manager.

   We spent a happy-go-lucky week by the sea with no schedule at all.

Common combinations

a happy-go-lucky person

Everyone says her father is a happy-go-lucky person.

happy-go-lucky attitude

His happy-go-lucky attitude helps him make friends quickly.

happy-go-lucky nature

Her happy-go-lucky nature hides a very organized mind.

happy-go-lucky lifestyle

They chose a happy-go-lucky lifestyle and travel when they can.

seem happy-go-lucky

He seems happy-go-lucky, but he plans everything carefully.

Synonyms and how they differ

carefree

Carefree is close, but it stresses having no worries or duties, while happy-go-lucky stresses a cheerful, easygoing character.

easygoing

Easygoing describes someone calm and not easily annoyed; happy-go-lucky adds a stronger feeling of cheerfulness.

lighthearted

Lighthearted means cheerful and not serious, often about a mood or event, not a permanent personality.

Opposites

Word family

happy-go-luckily adverb

In a relaxed, cheerful way; rare and mostly used in writing.

happy adjective

Feeling or showing pleasure.

luck noun

Good or bad things that happen by chance.

lucky adjective

Having good things happen by chance.

Commonly confused: happy-go-lucky person or happy-go-lucky? happy-go-lucky person or devil-may-care?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “happy-go-lucky person”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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