I just heard an economist interviewed on NPR say of May’s job recovery figures: “It’s happy that we’re hitting this threshold, but it’s sad that it’s taken us this long.”
I don’t remember hearing anyone saying “it’s happy” in this way. “It’s happy hour”—sure. In this case “happy” modifies “hour,” not “it.”
But try looking for the string “it’s happy that” in this sense and it turns out quite a few people use this expression.
Examples:
This expression is perfectly parallel in form and meaning with “it’s sad,” so why isn’t “it’s happy” as much standard usage as its opposite?
That’s the thing about idioms: they have their own patterns of evolution and often don’t follow normal rules. Most people say “it’s sad,” but they don’t say “it’s happy.”
This is the sort of thing that causes just a brief bump in the road of a conversation. A distinguished economist can say it without most people noticing that something’s a little off.
Nothing to worry about.
I don’t remember hearing anyone saying “it’s happy” in this way. “It’s happy hour”—sure. In this case “happy” modifies “hour,” not “it.”
But try looking for the string “it’s happy that” in this sense and it turns out quite a few people use this expression.
Examples:
It's happy that early morning drives have become a treat In my life not a daily drudge [trudge?].
It’s happy that you have found us.
It's happy that you get to winHere’s an instance which I at first thought was an example: “Transport for London (TfL) doesn't believe they're the same thing, and it has long said it's happy that Uber complies fully with regulations.” But in this case “it” refers back to “Transport for London.”
This expression is perfectly parallel in form and meaning with “it’s sad,” so why isn’t “it’s happy” as much standard usage as its opposite?
That’s the thing about idioms: they have their own patterns of evolution and often don’t follow normal rules. Most people say “it’s sad,” but they don’t say “it’s happy.”
This is the sort of thing that causes just a brief bump in the road of a conversation. A distinguished economist can say it without most people noticing that something’s a little off.
Nothing to worry about.
1 comment:
I have never heard this phrase, but I will begin to use it now that you have brought it to my attention. When appropriate, I will shout out, "Now that's just happy and right!"
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