Chrysti The Wordsmith: Happy As a Clam

Greetings I'm Christie the wordsmith from Montana State University in Bozeman. One of the more absurd idioms in the English language surely must be happy as a clam. Meaning perfectly contented or delighted with one's lot. Placing it under the cliche microscope the expression becomes moment by moment more unreasonable. How are clams more felicitous than any other organism. Ours clam happiness gauged anyway. Though the idiom as it's commonly used makes no sense. Our faith in its ability to express a concept is astounding. Most sources suggest the expression is American born in his 1848 publication of the Dictionary of American isms lexicographer John Russell Bartlett writes that the saying is quote a very common expression in those parts of the coast of New England where clans are found. But the expression as it was used in Bartlett's mid 19th century America was happy as a clam at high tide. The notion makes more sense when considered in its entirety. Clams

commonly dog when the tide is out would certainly be chagrined to find themselves extracted from the sand to be eaten. A happy clam on the other hand is temporarily safe from the meddling of clamors while inundated in the waters of a high tide. Happy as a clam at high tide. I'm Christie the wordsmith from the studios of KGO AM on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman. CHRISTIE The wordsmith is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and Zoot enterprises a high tech firm in Bozeman Montana offering challenging careers and innovative solutions for the financial services industry. Zoot web dot com.