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floating on air
/ˈfloʊtɪŋ ɒn ˈeər/◆idiom
extremely happy or excited
After receiving the job offer, she was floating on air all day.
She felt incredibly happy and light-hearted because of the good news.
informal
To feel extremely happy, elated, or euphoric, often to the point of feeling lightheaded or disconnected from reality.
He was floating on air after his team won the championship.
He felt immense joy and pride following the victory.
The couple was floating on air during their honeymoon.
They were experiencing intense romantic happiness and bliss.
Often used to describe the feeling of new love, great success, or relief. It implies a sense of weightlessness due to positive emotion.
Collocations
literally floating on airemphasizing the intensity of the feelingfloating on air with joyspecifying the cause of the happiness
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this phrase to describe a specific moment or period of intense happiness, such as after a promotion, a romantic milestone, or a major victory. Avoid using it for general contentment.
Gold Rule
Figurative Only
Never use this phrase to describe literal physical floating; it is exclusively metaphorical for emotional states.
Word Origin
Derived from the physical sensation of lightness associated with intense positive emotions, metaphorically linking happiness to the act of levitation or buoyancy.
Usage Notes
This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts to describe temporary states of extreme happiness. It is not typically used for long-term states of contentment.
English Dictionary