Definition

1. Idiomatic Verb Phrase:
   • To be overjoyed; to be elated; to be on cloud nine: To feel extremely happy, excited, or proud, often due to praise, success, or pleasant news. It describes a state of euphoria.
   • To be carried away; to have one's head in the clouds: To become excessively pleased or conceited, often from flattery, leading to unrealistic self-assessment or daydreaming.

Usage Examples

• Idiomatic Verb Phrase:
  • Được khen ngợi, cậu ấy lên mây. (Praised by everyone, he was on cloud nine.)
  • Đừng có lên mây vì vài lời nịnh nọt đó. (Don't get carried away by that bit of flattery.)
  • Nghe tin con đỗ đại học, cả nhà lên mây. (Hearing their child got into university, the whole family was overjoyed.)

Advanced Usage

• The phrase is often used in a cautionary tone to warn someone against becoming overly proud or unrealistic due to success or admiration.
  • Thành công nhỏ đã khiến anh ta lên mây, mất phương hướng. (A small success made him have his head in the clouds and lose direction.)

Variants and Related Words

• Nâng lên tận mây xanh: To praise to the skies; to extol.
  • Bài hát mới của cô ấy được giới phê bình nâng lên tận mây xanh. (Her new song was praised to the skies by the critics.)

Synonyms

• Be over the moon: To be extremely happy.
• Be on cloud nine: To be in a state of blissful happiness.
• Be elated: To be ecstatically happy.
• Have one's head in the clouds: To be unrealistic or dreamy.

Related Idioms

• Lên cơn: To have a fit (of anger, laughter, etc.). This shares the structure "lên + noun" but has a different meaning related to a sudden onset.
• Chìm nổi: To have ups and downs. This is an antonymic phrase describing life's vicissitudes, contrasting with the sustained high feeling of "lên mây".