happy as Larry
English
editEtymology
editThis 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.[1] 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."
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Adjective
editSynonyms
edit- see Thesaurus:happy
Translations
editextremely happy and carefree
References
edit- ^ Illawarra Mercury, 23 November 1857, page 2, "The Murray Land Bill No. 2"