Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

On cloud nine

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "On cloud nine" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourEmotions & Reactions collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Emotions & Reactions

On cloud nine

On cloud nine
Extremely happy, joyful, or thrilled because something wonderful has happened.
History & Origin

The phrase likely stems from the 1950s editions of the International Cloud Atlas, where 'Cloud 9' specifically classified the cumulonimbus—the highest, most massive, and majestic of all cloud formations. Reaching this top tier of clouds became a perfect metaphor for experiencing the absolute peak of happiness. Over time, alternative theories emerged linking it to Buddhist stages of enlightenment, but its meteorological roots remain the most widely accepted origin.

Examples
Casual Conversation

Ever since she got accepted into her dream university, she has been on cloud nine and hasn't stopped smiling.

Workplace Email

The entire team is on cloud nine after receiving confirmation that our proposal won the international design contract.

News/Media

The underdog team was on cloud nine last night after scoring a spectacular last-minute goal to win the championship.

Formal Speech

Standing before you today as the recipient of this prestigious award, I am truly on cloud nine and profoundly grateful.

Academic Writing

Psychological surveys indicated that the participants were on cloud nine immediately following the successful completion of the intensive endurance trial.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. He was on cloud nine when he lost his wallet on the subway, making him late for the interview.

B. After months of grueling training, the athlete was on cloud nine when she finally crossed the finish line in first place.

C. Please make sure your essay is on cloud nine before submitting it to the portal by midnight.

D. The stock market crashed suddenly, leaving many investors on cloud nine about their massive financial losses.