Cool MateOver the moon vs Thrilled
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Over the moon
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Thrilled
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Most formal: Thrilled
| Over the moon | Thrilled | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˌəʊ.və ðə muːn//🇺🇸 //ˌoʊ.vɚ ðə muːn// | 🇬🇧 /["/θrɪld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/θrɪld/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very happy and joyful. | Very excited or happy. |
| Example | She was over the moon when she won the lottery. | ‘Are you pleased?’ ‘I'm thrilled.’ |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be over the moon, feel over the moon, make someone over the moon, look over the moon | be, feel, look, really, absolutely, quite, at, with, thrilled to bits, thrilled to pieces |
| Antonyms | - | disappointed, unhappy, bored |
| Common mistakes | Used too formally, like in business emails., Confused with 'over the place', which means disorganized. | 'Thrilled' is sometimes confused with 'excited', but 'thrilled' is stronger., Learners might use 'thrilled' with negative contexts, which sounds odd., Some forget to use 'be' before 'thrilled' (e.g. saying 'I thrilled' instead of 'I am thrilled'). |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase in casual conversations when expressing great happiness. It is not suitable for formal writing. | Use 'thrilled' to express excitement in neutral to positive contexts. Avoid in very formal writing. It's suitable for conversations and informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Over the moon vs Thrilled
What's the difference between Over the moon and Thrilled?
Over the moon: Very happy and joyful. Thrilled: Very excited or happy.
Which is more formal: Over the moon and Thrilled?
Thrilled is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Over the moon: She was over the moon when she won the lottery. Thrilled: ‘Are you pleased?’ ‘I'm thrilled.’
Can I use Over the moon and Thrilled interchangeably?
Not always. Over the moon and Thrilled are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.