joy

a joy to behold

A thing, event, or experience that creates a profound sense of joy or elation in the spectator. The spring flowers in this part of the country are truly a joy to behold. The play was a joy to behold, full of beauty, warmth, and wit.

burst with (an emotion)

Of an emotion, to be so filled up with something as to be unable to contain it. I was bursting with anger after they fired me from my job. My kids burst with joy when we told them we were going to the theme park over the weekend.

no joy

1. military aviation No visual confirmation of another aircraft (especially an enemy) has yet been made; no information available at this time. Ground control: "Pilot, be aware that you have traffic at 11 o'clock." Pilot: "Copy that, no joy so far."

2. By extension, no luck; I've been unsuccessful thus far. Primarily heard in UK. I've been having no joy finding this book I need for class tomorrow.

3. Literally, no pleasure or enjoyment. I take no joy in making staff redundant, but it's part of being a manager, I'm afraid.

have any joy

To have some amount of luck or success in some task. Have you had any joy getting the washing machine working? I've been looking all over town for a book I need for class next week, but I haven't had any joy so far.

bundle of joy

A newborn baby. We threw a baby shower for Jessica today so she can get all she needs in preparation for her little bundle of joy.

See also: bundle, joy, of

no joy in Mudville

A phrase used to describe an overall sense of sadness and/or disappointment. It comes from the poem "Casey at the Bat." Believe me, there's been no joy in Mudville ever since my sister and her boyfriend broke up. There will be no joy in Mudville once Billy learns he didn't make the basketball team.

be full of the joys of spring

To be very happy. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I was full of the joys of spring when I found out that I'd gotten an A on my hardest exam.

be in a transport of delight

To be extremely happy. I've been in a transport of delight ever since I got engaged—I just can't stop looking at my ring!

a thing of beauty is a joy forever

Something beautiful will give pleasure long after it ceases to exist. This phrase is taken from John Keats' poem Endymion. Thoughts of blooming flowers sustain me through the cold winter months. Truly, a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

See also: beauty, forever, joy, of, thing

bundle of joy

and bundle from heaven

Fig. a baby. We are expecting a bundle of joy next September. When your little bundle from heaven arrives, things will be a little hectic for a while.

See also: bundle, joy, of

burst with joy

Fig. [for someone] to be full to the bursting point with happiness. (To be so filled with joy as if to burst.) When I got my grades, I could have burst with joy. Bill was not exactly bursting with joy when he got the news.

leap for joy

and jump for joy

Fig. to jump up because one is happy; to be very happy. Tommy leapt for joy because he had won the race. We all leapt for joy when we heard the news.

pride and joy

Fig. something or someone that one is very proud of. (Often in reference to a baby, a car, a house, etc. Fixed order.) And this is our little pride and joy, Roger. Fred pulled up in his pride and joy and asked if I wanted a ride.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.

Prov. Beautiful things give pleasure that lasts even longer than the beautiful things themselves. (This is a line from John Keats's poem "Endymion." Also a thing of beauty and a joy forever, used to describe something beautiful in lofty terms, often ironically.) Jill: I don't understand why someone would pay millions of dollars to have some old painting. Jane: Because a thing of beauty is a joy forever.

See also: beauty, forever, joy, of, thing

weep for joy

Fig. to cry out of happiness. She was so happy, she wept for joy. We all wept for joy at the safe return of the child.

jump for joy

to show great happiness or excitement The blood tests so far show my mother doesn't have cancer, but it's still too early to jump for joy because she has to have more tests.

pride and joy

a person or thing that gives great pleasure and satisfaction Her garden is her pride and joy.

a bundle of joy

(informal)

a baby Three days after the birth, Sandra took home her little bundle of joy.

See also: bundle, joy, of

be full of the joys of spring

(British & Australian humorous)

to be very happy He bounced into the office, full of the joys of spring.

jump for joy

to be very happy about something good that has happened Tina jumped for joy when she found out she'd be in the team.

be in a transport of delight/joy

(literary)

to feel extremely happy or pleased I looked up to the heavens and praised God, in a transport of delight.

pride and joy

The object of one's great pleasure, as in Our new grandson is our pride and joy, or Dana's car is his pride and joy. This term was probably invented by Sir Walter Scott in his poem Rokeby (1813), where he described children as "a mother's pride, a father's joy."

bundle of joy

and bundle from heaven

n. a baby. We are expecting a bundle of joy next September. Robert, your little bundle from heaven smells like a saddle bag from the other place.

See also: bundle, joy, of

joy flakes

and joy dust

n. powdered or crystallized cocaine. (see also crack.) She said what she wanted was some joy flakes, and I guess that’s cocaine. “Joy dust” is sort of crack without the press coverage.

joy dust

verb

See joy flakes

joy juice

n. liquor; beer. Can I pour some more of this joy juice?

joy ride

1. n. a drinking bout or party. There’s a little joy ride over at Tom’s.

2. n. a state of euphoria from drug use. (Drugs.) Ernie’s on a little joy ride right now and can’t come to the phone.

3. n. a ride where the passenger does not return alive. (Underworld.) Mr. Big wanted Sam to take Harry the Horse on a joy ride.

joy water

n. liquor; strong liquor. How about some more joy water?

bundle of joy

A baby.

See also: bundle, joy, of

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Beck	[bek]
Gunhild	-	Swedish, Norwegian, Danish
Lakshmi	LUKSH-mee (Hinduism)	Hinduism, Indian, Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Hindi
Else	EL-se (Danish, Norwegian), EL-sə (German, Dutch)	Danish, Norwegian, German, Dutch
Lianne	lee-AN	English (Rare)
Deborah	DEB-ə-rə (English), DEB-rə (English)	English, Hebrew, Biblical