Cloud nine

Posted by ESC on November 20, 2000

In Reply to: What is the meaning of on cloud nine? posted by jessica on November 20, 2000

: I thought I knew but I guess I didn't, can someone tell me for sure what it means? I think it came from a song or something... I dunno. THANKS!!

CLOUD NINE - "The expression 'up on cloud nine' to describe a feeling of euphoric exaltation is based on actual terminology used by the U.S. Weather Bureau. Clouds are divided into classes and each class is divided into nine types. 'Cloud nine' is the cumulonimbus cloud that you often see building up in the sky in a hot summer afternoon. It may reach 30,000 to 40,000 feet, so if one is up on 'cloud nine,' one is high indeed. The popularity of 'cloud nine' as a catch phrase, though, may be credited to the 'Johnny Dollar' radio show of the 1950s. There was one recurring episode, like Fibber McGee's famous opening of the closet door. Every time the hero was knocked unconscious - which was often - he was transported to 'cloud nine.' There Johnny could start talking again." From Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins by William and Mary Morris (HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1997).

See - The meaning and origin of 'cloud nine'.