See other phrases that were coined in the USA. Linguistic hype being what it is, we now hear people expressing their happiness with the inflationary 'cloud ten', which brings us back to the cumulonimbus/Buddhist theories. That has probably been influenced by the use of 'cloud nine' in popular music - George Harrison adopted the term as the title of his 1987 album and, more notably, The Temptations' 'psychedelic soul' album of the same name, in 1969. Since the 1980s or so, 'cloud nine' has become predominant. This early preference for seven as the significant number may have been influenced by the existing phrase 'seventh heaven'. "Cloud seven - completely happy, perfectly satisfied in a euphoric state." The early favourite was 'cloud seven' and many of the oldest citations use that form, as in this piece from The Dictionary of American Slang, 1960, which was the first printed definition of the term "That stuff is way up on Cloud Thirty-nine." "I think he has thought of everything, unless the authorities pull something new on him out of cloud nine."Īround the same period we find clouds seven and thirty-nine, in The San Mateo Times, April 1952 and Ross’s Hustlers, 1956, respectively: Answer (1 of 17): It’s an American English idiom meaning a state of perfect happiness, a feeling of well-being or elation. 'Cloud nine' comes a little later, for example, in The Oxnard Press-Courier, August 1946: "Cloud eight, befuddled on account of drinking too much liquor." Notes: This formerly had the connotation of drug usage. The early references all come from mid 20th century USA and the earliest that I've found is in Albin Pollock's directory of slang, The Underworld Speaks, 1935: Definition: Extremely happy For example: Cindy was on cloud nine after her boyfriend proposed to her. The imagery was originally of a 'cloud cuckoo land' or 'head in the clouds' dreaminess, induced by either intoxication or inspiration, rather than the 'idyllic happiness' that we now associate with the phrase. It seems that it is the clouds themselves, rather than the number of them, that were in the thoughts of those who coined this phrase. Early examples of 'cloud' expressions include clouds seven, eight, nine and even thirty-nine. All of them, however, retain some sense of nine as a superlative or implying perfection. dressed to the nines, the whole nine yards, the origin remains obscure. Also, the fact that nine is far from the only number that has been linked with clouds, argues against those origins. To be on cloud nine is to be blissfully happy an American expression that dates from the mid-20th century. To single out the last but one stage of either is rather like attributing the source of the 'whole nine yards' to American Football, where it is ten yards rather than nine that is a significant measure. To begin with, both the cloud classifications and the Buddhist stages to enlightenment have ten levels. Neither of these explanations holds water. 'On cloud nine' is no exception.Ī commonly heard explanation is that the expression originated as one of the classifications of cloud which were defined by the US Weather Bureau in the 1950s, in which 'Cloud Nine' denotes the fluffy cumulonimbus type that are considered so attractive.Īnother explanation is that the phrase derives from Buddhism and that Cloud Nine is one of the stages of the progress to enlightenment of a Bodhisattva (one destined to become a Buddha). Whenever a phrase includes a number, like the whole nine yards, at sixes and sevens etc., then attempts to find its derivation usually focus on the significance of the number. What's the origin of the phrase 'On cloud nine'? Whenever a phrase includes a number, like. Whats the origin of the phrase On cloud nine. To be 'on cloud nine' is to be in a state of blissful happiness. To be on cloud nine is to be in a state of blissful happiness. The natural world What's the meaning of the phrase 'On cloud nine'?.WARNING: This entry can not be held responsible for any cloud nine related injuries due to taking instruction from it, because I simply was told what it was like from a friend. This usually sends the cloud niner into a shocked state. When the cloud niner awakes, they have little knowledge of anything around them and dont remember who the people are around them, no matter how good of friends they are with the people surrounding them. After this, the cloud niner should pass out for a few seconds and then awake. A second person must then immediately cut off all blood and oxygen going to the brain, by placing their hands over the cloud niners throat, as if they were choking the cloud niner. After that, they once again go back against the wall with their breath held. After hypervetilating, they suck in all air and hold their breath. After that, they must hyperventilate for 1 to 2 minutes. First, the person who is going to be cloud nined must flatten against a wall, and then bend over. A Cloud Nine is an easy way to be launched into a high euphoria.
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