We've heard the phrase 'as happy as Larry". But where did this come from?
2006-12-06 09:33:06 · 18 answers · asked by freegrounds 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Quotations
I've heard it as a Australian/ New Zealand term. It's not something commonly used in the USA. See source for some theories.
2006-12-06 09:38:05 · answer #1 · answered by D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, there is a conspicuous lack of verifiable information about "happy as Larry." The phrase seems to have originated in Australia around the end of the 19th century, and first appeared in print (as far as we know so far) in 1905. The leading theory is that "happy as Larry" originally referred to the Australian boxer Larry Foley (1847-1917), but no one seems to know if, when or why boxer Larry would have been happy enough to inspire a popular saying of such remarkable longevity.
2006-12-06 17:40:41 · answer #2 · answered by mellon_collie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very Happy. An Australian expression. It is suggested that the original Larry may have been Larry Foley (1847-1917) the noted boxer, but the word may actually relate to LARRIKIN.
LARRIKIN. an Australian term dating from the 19th century denoting a young ruffian or rowdy given to acts of hooliganism. The flourished particularly in the 1880' and were known by their own style of dress, recognisable by it's excessive neatness and severe colours. The word from an English dialect name for a mischievous youth.
2006-12-10 12:38:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
larry was a single guy, he lived life to the full never had anyone nagging him, never had to worry about money. That is why Larry was as happy as a pig in s..t :)
2006-12-06 17:35:50 · answer #4 · answered by Duisend-poot 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Larry was a friend of mine. And no, he wasn't as happy as everyone seems to think he was- that guy had some serious issues.
2006-12-06 17:35:21 · answer #5 · answered by Low profile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Larry is a guy who found the key to happyness...he was always himself, he lived with his own rules, or with his own lack of rules...he found out he couldn't care less about society's imputs, about what people thinked and about what was 'right' and 'wrong' according to them...being so serene, there's nothing he feared, nothing he expected...he was happy with what he had, and kept receiving beautiful gifts from the universe, cause he was not expecting them...and he found love: true love for hiself and true love with someone special and love for the entire world...
that's who larry was...
2006-12-06 17:46:48 · answer #6 · answered by What U see is what U get 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Larry the lamb !
2006-12-07 06:33:02 · answer #7 · answered by Scotty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Larry is happy as a sandboy.
Have no idea what that means either
2006-12-06 17:38:51 · answer #8 · answered by katieplatie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i know a larry and he is always happy maybe all larry's are happy
2006-12-06 17:34:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Feldman
2006-12-06 17:35:03 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋