Meaning
- cheerful
- always in a pleasant mood
- goes with the flow
- a positive outlook on life at all times
- worry-free
- accepts life as it comes
Example Sentences
- Even though it was storming outside, he kept his sunny disposition since he was happy-go-lucky.
- She's so happy-go-lucky; even the worst events don't affect her.
- When you're happy-go-lucky, it's tough not to be upbeat, even in the worse circumstances.
- Those without happy go lucky dispositions run the risk of being depressed their whole lives.
- He couldn't share his friend's happy-go-lucky attitude.
- Despite being angry, his girlfriend's happy go lucky attitude rubbed off, and he turned his day around.
- She is naturally happy-go-lucky even though it annoys her friends.
Origin
During the 1670s, the word didn't mean what it does today. The root of the word happy is hap. It comes from the Old Norse word happ, meaning chance, fortune, or luck. As time went on, this word was turned into happy, first used in the 16th century. So, when the phrase happy go lucky was first used, it meant someone who leaves their luck up to chance or is haphazard about things. Many people used the term for whatever happens or whatever happens, much different from our modern-day usage. It wasn't until the early 19th century the word became understood by its modern definition.
One early example of the idiom was in a note from 1802, "Messrs. Hubbarbs resisted on the plea of having sold him "happy go lucky." This is meant that what was bought without a return policy whether or not it worked. A later example in 1856, "the first thing was to make Carter think and talk, which he did in the happy-go-lucky way of his class." reflected the idiom's modern-day usage.
