Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > English Idioms and Sayings

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 06-Jan-2006, 01:41
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Country: Vietnam
Posts: 6
First Language: vietnamese
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
ngongrom is on a distinguished road
Default idioms

I know the meaning of the idiom "on cloud nine". It means you are in happy spirit but I can't understand why people use the number "nine" not another numbers. please help me
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 06-Jan-2006, 03:34
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,454
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 429 Times in 385 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: idioms

I heard that it is the highest layer of cloud, so it's the top, the peak. 'On cloud seven' is an alternative form, though much less common.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 06-Jan-2006, 15:44
Key Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Country: Poland
Posts: 1,737
Current Location: Poland
First Language: Polish
Member Type: Student or Learner
Thanks: 16
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
nyggus is on a distinguished road
Thumbs up Re: idioms

Hey tdol, maybe this 'on cloud seven' comes from Polish? To say 'to be on could nine' we use 'to be in seventh heaven.'

Best
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 07-Jan-2006, 04:58
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Country: UK
Posts: 25,454
Current Location: Phnom Penh
First Language: English
Member Type: English Teacher
Thanks: 6
Thanked 429 Times in 385 Posts
Tdol has disabled reputation
Default Re: idioms

We have 'seventh heaven' in English too- an example of a transnational idiom.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
idioms

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
idioms nasir Ask a Teacher 3 21-Aug-2007 12:23
idioms alma mie Ask a Teacher 3 15-Nov-2006 12:15
New References of English Idioms, Slang and Swearing Red5 News and Announcements 4 10-Jun-2005 19:31
idioms Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 08-Feb-2004 00:28


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 03:11.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com