Be on Cloud Nine with these English Idioms for Feelings and Moods

Think about your daily routine, conversations, and interactions. How often do you answer the questions, “How are you?” or “How are you doing?” Have you ever been asked, “Are you okay?” “Is something wrong?” Being able to express our feelings and moods in English will help us satisfy what we need, and communicate more effectively in this target language.

So, this week will feature English idioms to express how you feel! Below the idioms, definitions, and examples are some questions you can answer in the comment section, to practice using these words in context. Remember, practice makes perfect!

1. on cloud nine: to be extremely pleased or happy
2. keep chin up: be happy despite negative things happening
3. to be on top of the world: thrilled, joyful, happy (feeling like nothing can stop you or hold you down)
4. happy camper: content, in a good mood
5. over the moon: extremely excited and happy

I was on cloud nine when I got my new job. I was over the moon because it was my dream job, and I had been wishing for it. I didn’t think I was going to get the position, because I didn’t feel I had a successful interview. However, I kept my chin up, and stayed positive. Since I’ve started my job, I have been one happy camper, and feel like I am on top of the world. Nothing can bring me down (make me sad, or ruin my good mood)!

1. down in the dumps: be depressed or sad
2. Debbie downer: someone who is very negative and complaining all the time
3. to not be one’s self (ex: I am not myself lately, or .. You have not been yourself):  be different than usual, in a negative way (either sad, or angry)
4. cry one’s eyes out: to cry a lot and for a long time about something
5. to see red: be very angry

 Kathy has been such a Debbie downer lately because she lost her job. She hasn’t been herself for a while now, and she is really down in the dumps. I am trying to be there for her and give her support, but she is very hard to be around. She cries her eyes out every night, and says very rude things. I am starting to see red because of it.

1. to feel/look under the weather:  to not look or feel well
2. to be sick as a dog: to be extremely sick
3. to take a turn for the worse: to become sicker than you were before
4. splitting headache: an extremely bad headache
5. to puke one’s guts out: to vomit a lot

I woke up Friday with a splitting headache, and I knew it was another migraine. I called my boss and told her that I was sick as a dog, and couldn’t go into work. I tried to go back to sleep, but I took a turn for the worse, and then started to feel sick to my stomach (stomach ache). I spent the next few hours puking my guts out, and when my husband came home, he told me that I looked a little under the weather. If only he knew what my day had been like!

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To practice these idioms, review these questions and answer in the comment section!

• When was the last time you were sick as a dog?
• Do you know anyone who is a Debbie downer? Are you a Debbie downer?
• Have you ever felt on top of the world? What was the situation?
• Are you over the moon about anything right now?
• Have you ever puked your guts out from a splitting headache?
• What makes you see red?
• The last time you were down in the dumps, how did you keep your chin up?

Happy Studying! Happy Hump Day! ♥

If you enjoyed these idioms, be sure to check out my other “Idioms of the Week!“ Also, please share this post with a friend, or someone who could use some new language skills! Thanks 😉