Question

On Cloud Nine blissfully happy; joyous

Accepted Answer

Frances is on cloud nine since being named Junior Scientist of the Year. Though this saying comes from the late 19th century, nine has been a mystical number for thousands of years, back to the time of the ancient Greeks. The saying originally was "on cloud seven," probably coming from "seventh heaven," the highest of the heavens in Jewish religious literature. Nine was then substituted, perhaps because it is a sacred Christian number. This is because three is a trinity and represents perfect unity, and nine is a trinity of trinities (3 x 3). Other idioms that express great joy also suggest being up high: "on top of the world" (see page 136), "walking on air" (see page 202), and so on.

Idiom	On Cloud Nine
Example	Frances is on cloud nine since being named Junior Scientist of the Year.
Meaning	blissfully happy; joyous
Origin	Though this saying comes from the late 19th century, nine has been a mystical number for thousands of years, back to the time of the ancient Greeks. The saying originally was "on cloud seven," probably coming from "seventh heaven," the highest of the heavens in Jewish religious literature. Nine was then substituted, perhaps because it is a sacred Christian number. This is because three is a trinity and represents perfect unity, and nine is a trinity of trinities (3 x 3). Other idioms that express great joy also suggest being up high: "on top of the world" (see page 136), "walking on air" (see page 202), and so on.

Cloud Trinity Page Frances Named Junior Scientist Year