Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

happy as larry

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.24 in modern English

Syllables
hap-py as lar-ry
IPA
25
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Extremely happy and carefree.

Informal

Example Sentences

Etymology

This has been said to refer to the Australian boxer Larry Foley (1849–1917), who never lost a fight. This is not likely as the earliest reference to the phrase is in a letter to the editor of the Illawarra Mercury in Wollongong, Australia in 1857. In it the correspondent "G U A" (probably Dr. George Underwood Alley, known for regularly corresponding with newspapers) writes "...we'll all live together, like Brown's cows, and be as happy as Larry."

Usage

Synonyms

happy

Questions

What does happy as larry mean?
Extremely happy and carefree.
Where does happy as larry come from?
This has been said to refer to the Australian boxer Larry Foley (1849–1917), who never lost a fight. This is not likely as the earliest reference to the phrase is in a letter to the editor of the Illawarra Mercury in Wollongong, Australia in 1857. In it the correspondent "G U A" (probably Dr. George Underwood Alley, known for regularly corresponding with newspapers) writes "...we'll all live together, like Brown's cows, and be as happy as Larry."

How to pronounce happy as larry

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  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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  4. Repeat and practice — Say “happy as larry” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.