tickle me pink

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiominformal

   To make someone very pleased, amused or delighted; usually said about good news or a pleasant surprise.

   Grammar: Most often passive: be tickled pink; the active form takes an object: it tickled her pink.

   Patterns

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

   My grandmother was tickled pink when the whole family showed up for her birthday.

   The coach would be tickled pink if we won the first game of the season.

   I was tickled pink to hear that my old roommate is getting married.

Word forms

Common combinations

be tickled pink

She was tickled pink with the handmade card.

absolutely tickled pink

The neighbors were absolutely tickled pink by the surprise visit.

tickled pink about

He was tickled pink about his promotion.

tickled pink to see

We were tickled pink to see the garden in bloom.

would be tickled pink

My dad would be tickled pink if you called him.

Synonyms and how they differ

delighted

Delighted is neutral and works in any setting, while tickled pink sounds playful and casual.

thrilled

Thrilled suggests stronger excitement, whereas tickled pink is a warmer, gentler kind of pleasure.

overjoyed

Overjoyed is more formal and intense, and it would sound odd for a small, amusing pleasure.

chuffed

Chuffed is British slang for being pleased with oneself or an outcome, while tickled pink is understood in both British and American English.

Opposites

Word family

tickle verb

to touch lightly so that someone laughs, or to amuse someone

tickled adjective

amused or pleased

ticklish adjective

sensitive to being tickled

Commonly confused: tickle me pink or tickled to death?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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