happy warrior

happy warrior

One who remains stalwart and undiscouraged in the face of adversity. The phrase is often applied to politicians who are nominated for higher offices but ultimately are not elected. The other party's candidate is so strong that we need to nominate a happy warrior who can gracefully shoulder the disappointments we may face.
See also: happy, warrior
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • warrior
  • press ahead
  • a penny for them
  • beck and call
  • be twiddling (one's) thumbs
  • be twiddling your thumbs
  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • but for the grace of God
  • best foot forward
  • (one's) best foot forward
References in periodicals archive
This looks a competitive and tightlyknit handicap with the likes of Purtonridden top-weight Happy Warrior, laststart winner Enjoy Life and progressive handicapper Flame Lily in opposition.
The deadly, unstoppable earnestness of Wick is leavened by Reeves's emergence as the literal embodiment of William Wordsworth's happy warrior: "It is the generous Spirit, who, when brought / Among the tasks of real life, hath wrought / Upon the plan that pleased his boyish thought: / Whose high endeavors are an inward light / That makes the path before him always bright."
At times, Murphy has appeared awkward as he navigated the personalities and fiefdoms in Trenton but he has managed to maintain an image as a happy warrior. In that regard, he represents a refreshing change from a grim, hard-edged approach of his predecessor.
One other worthy of note is Happy Warrior in the 1m1/2f handicap (12.45).
Wojtek was adopted as a cub in Iran by Polish soldiers, who named him, meaning "Happy Warrior".
He became the mascot of the Polish II Corps' 22nd Artillery Supply Company who gave him the name Wojtek -- meaning Happy Warrior. The adorable cub was good for morale and was known for enjoying a beer and a wrestle with comrades.
Gatsas, 67, is a happy warrior on the campaign trail and tirelessly knocks on doors.
"He is a happy warrior. The president could not have chosen a better partner for his work," Ryan said, offering a toast.
The editors have organized the fifteen selections that make up the main body of the text in seven parts devoted to reasserting tradition, returning home to another war, telling the untellable, between the paradigms of the happy warrior and the bitter pacifist, the subaltern, the soldier and the other, and childrenAEs experiences of war.
TAUNTON: 1.00 Rolling Dough, 1.30 Tara Tavey, 2.00 Vinnie Red, 2.30 Tsar Alexandre, 3.00 Kalane, 3.30 The Happy Warrior, 4.00 Northern Bay.
He was unique, and part of his charisma was his wild and happy warrior spirit.
Perhaps, given the tribal wars in Washington and dark tides loose in the world, there's a longing for Bill's better angels: the Happy Warrior desire to get up every day and go at it, no matter how difficult; the unfailing belief that in the future things will be better; the zest in the hand-to-hand combat of politics and policy, the reaching out to Newt Gingrich -- even through government shutdowns and impeachment -- and later teaming up with Bush Senior.
After 50 years, you could call Slovic a happy warrior, except for his deep disdain of war and his scholarly skepticism of happiness.
The Happy Warrior can be relied upon to give punters a good run for their money in the IRL Independent Racecourses Handicap Hurdle at Stratford.