Jump for joy

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To express extreme happiness or excitement physically; this idiom conveys uncontainable joy, often used in poetry to depict a character's exuberant response to good news, creating a vivid, dynamic image of elation.

Detailed Definition
"Jump for joy" embodies an explosive, physical expression of elation, where pure happiness overcomes restraint and manifests as an upward, leaping movement, making it a vibrant, kinetic idiom for triumphant moments, celebrations, and emotional peaks in poetry. Its action verb (jump) suggests spontaneity, youth, and irrepressible energy, while the object (joy) explicitly names the emotion, leaving no room for ambiguity. In odes and victory poems, this phrase often appears in concluding stanzas to seal the mood of exultation, as when a hero returns or a conflict resolves. Its rhythmic liveliness (trochee-iamb) encourages a bouncing meter that mirrors the action, and its alliteration (j) adds to its playful sonic quality. However, poets may also ironize it, placing a character who jumps for joy in a context where joy is fragile or misplaced, thereby introducing pathos. In children's poetry, it is a straightforward delight, while in adult verse, it can serve as a poignant reminder of childhood exuberance lost. Its brevity and clarity make it an indispensable tool for immediate emotional communication.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Children jump for joy at simple rhymes that heal” expresses spontaneous delight; “At the first snow, they jumped for joy in the street” places the idiom in a vivid scene; A speaker might undercut it with “I wanted to jump for joy, / but grief kept both feet still”; The phrase is energetic and colloquial, useful for celebrations, reunions, victories, and childlike wonder
Additional Notes
"Jump for joy" physicalizes happiness. Tip: Exuberant motion. Related: "grin from ear to ear." Highlights celebration.
Also Known As
exult celebrate rejoice show great pleasure be ecstatic leap with excitement be overjoyed
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