sandboy

(as) happy as a sandboy

In very good spirits. It is possible that sandboys (boys who sold sand in Victorian England) were said to be so happy because they were paid in alcoholic beverages. Primarily heard in UK. I was as happy as a sandboy when I found out that I'd gotten an A on my hardest exam.
See also: happy, sandboy

be as happy as a sandboy

To be in very good spirits. It is possible that sandboys (boys who sold sand in Victorian England) were said to be so happy because they were paid in alcoholic beverages. Primarily heard in UK. I was as happy as a sandboy when I found out that I'd gotten an A on my hardest exam.
See also: happy, sandboy

be as happy as Larry

To be in very good spirits. The phrase's origin is unknown, but it may refer to Australian boxer Larry Foley. I was as happy as Larry when I found out that I'd gotten an A on my hardest exam.
See also: happy, Larry
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

happy as a sandboy

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If you are happy as a sandboy, you are very happy. He's all smiles and happy as a sandboy. Note: Sandboys were boys or men who sold bags of sand from carts. It is possible that they were described as `happy' because they had a reputation for spending their money on alcohol.
See also: happy, sandboy
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

happy as a sandboy

extremely happy; perfectly contented with your situation.
An 1823 dictionary describes a sandboy as an urchin who sold sand in the streets, and according to the same source the expression jolly as a sandboy was already proverbial by that date for ‘a merry fellow who has tasted a drop’. A common British version of the phrase is happy as Larry , Larry being a pet name for Lawrence . This saying is sometimes connected with the renowned boxer Larry Foley ( 1847–1917 ); on the other hand, it may owe something to larry , a dialect word used by Thomas Hardy , meaning ‘a state of excitement’. The North American version is happy as a clam , which apparently originated in the early 19th century on the east coast, where clams are plentiful: the full version happy as a clam at high water explains the source of the clam's satisfaction.
See also: happy, sandboy
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (as) happy as a sandboy
  • be as happy as a sandboy
  • happy as a sandboy
  • have a snoot full
  • bottle
  • the bottle
  • have one over (the) eight
  • drinkies
  • happy juice
  • booze can
References in periodicals archive
"And exactly what is a sandboy?" my chum Brian said.
Now we all know why I'm a happy sandboy
HAPPY AS A SANDBOY: Padraig Harrington is one of the best bunker players
GOLF : EASY TIGER: YOUR WEEK-BY-WEEK GUIDE TO GAINING A BETTER HANDICAP
HAPPY AS A SANDBOY: Ireland's Peter Lawrie plays out of a bunker in Portugal
Golf: I STILL BELIEVE I CAN BE THE MASTER; SPORT TEES OFF WITH GOLF LATEST Little wonder our Monty's laughing
STAR of the desert Ricky Munday hopes he'll be as happy as a sandboy tonight after helping Glasgow Hawks land the BT Cup to complete the double.
Rugby Union: DESERT STORM; Glasgow Hawks v Dundee HSFP Rick plans to blow away Dundee after running across the Sahara
free-to-access material including the Sandboy's Preview (tips and analysis for each all-weather race), Lay of the Day (claiming a strike-rate of 84 per cent) and Longshots (the search for big-priced winners).
Net prophet: Something for all you sand lovers
HAPPY AS A SANDBOY: Clark loves life as a green keeper
Football: A safe pair of hands; HE'S GOALIE GURUAT LOCHEE UNITED BUT CLARK'S GREATEST SAVES INVOLVED HEARTATTACKVICTIMS
HAPPY AS A SANDBOY: The Tannadice pitch was more like a beach yesterday but Ronald de Boer was happy to lie down on the job to celebrate his second and Rangers' third goal
FOOTBALL: Tannadice pitch in Eck of a state ..; Dundee Utd 1 Rangers 4
Having played on a beach last weekend, the Chelsea striker will be as happy as a sandboy after backing Silver Birch from trap six to win the 8.00 at Wimbledon tonight.
Get It Ready: Silver Birch is four-star value to give layers a striping
ONE ECK OF A BOSS: Alex McLeish; HAPPY AS A SANDBOY; Moore enjoys a round at Dubai Creek Golf Club and now aims to stay on course for another championship medal as well as World Cup glory with the Socceroos; POOL PLAYER: Moore relaxes by the water at Rangers' Dubai training camp
FOOTBALL: RANGERS IN DUBAI: MY OZ-SOME TWOSOME; Aussie star aims to make it a year to remember Craig: I'll spur club to title .. then I'll take my country to Germany '06
Roger Chapman, happy as a sandboy after spending some of his Rio de Janeiro winnings on laser eye surgery which means he can throw away his contact lenses, can spring a 9-4 surprise by beating Open champion Paul Lawrie and Aussie Peter Senior.
Golf: Confident Woosie for blistering start
Mrs Pitman said yesterday: "Princeful is as happy as a sandboy. He appears to be very comfortable, standing four-square on his feet, and everyone is delighted with his progress.
Princeful may race again
`I would,' she says, `but you're still here.' One divorce later and she's happy as a sandboy called Larry in high heels (cos the next fella's gonna be a big 'un) and a frock cunningly fashioned to look like a toga.
Star Challenge: Wash that man right out of your hair; Being loved up's all very nice, but it can take the Spanish archer (El Bow) for a girl to up the ante
Freeman, 56, sparked a pounds 35,000 rescue operation when he abandoned his pounds 6500 yacht, The Sandboy, after it was dashed against rocks at Burghead Harbour.
COPTER SEARCHES FOR SAILOR IN BATH; 10p call could have saved pounds 35k rescue
Payne described Earth Summit as "happy as a sandboy" back at Nigel Twiston- Davies' yard yesterday and, despite the likelihood of top weight in the Welsh National, is confident of another bold showing.
Gold Cup plan for Summit