cloud nine

Meaning

1. (idiomatic, uncountable) Often in the phrase on cloud nine: a state of bliss, elation or happiness.
2. (idiomatic, nonstandard, possibly, uncountable) A state of fantastic or impractical dreaming or thinking.

Synonyms

seventh heaven

bliss

blissfulness

walking on air

Translations

septième ciel

sétimo céu

Wolke sieben

séptimo cielo

arrapament

deliqui

felicitat absoluta

στον έβδομο ουρανό

εξαιρετική ευτυχία

béatitude

félicité

septième Ciel

cloud 9

beatitudine

felicità

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈklaʊd ˈnaɪn/

Etymology

The origin of sense 1 (“a state of bliss”) is uncertain; however, the following etymology has been suggested:
* The first edition of the International Cloud Atlas (1896), which defined ten types of cloud, described the ninth type as the cumulonimbus which rises to 10 km (6.2 miles), the highest a cloud can be.
Compare cloud seven (“state of complete happiness or euphoria”), which may have originated from confusion of cloud nine with seventh heaven.
Sense 2 (“a state of fantastic or impractical dreaming or thinking”) may be due to a confusion between sense 1 and the phrase head in the clouds.