LadyButterfly she/her@piefed.blahaj.zone to memes@lemmy.worldEnglish · 2 months agoTotallypiefed.cdn.blahaj.zoneimagemessage-square12fedilinkarrow-up1331arrow-down112
arrow-up1319arrow-down1imageTotallypiefed.cdn.blahaj.zoneLadyButterfly she/her@piefed.blahaj.zone to memes@lemmy.worldEnglish · 2 months agomessage-square12fedilink
minus-squareFooBarrington@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up22·2 months agoMost phrases have very small percentages, as they are measured against all other combinations of words in literature. Since it’s an informal idiom, it’s also much more common in spoken than in written language.
minus-squareTheLeadenSea@sh.itjust.workslinkfedilinkEnglisharrow-up1arrow-down14·2 months agoEven with those small percentages, ‘free as a bird’ was twice as common.
minus-squareFooBarrington@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up17arrow-down1·2 months agoAgain, “happy as a clam” is very informal. “Free as a bird” is much less so, so it makes sense it pops up more often in literature.
minus-squareCapt. Wolf@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up6·2 months agoIt’s also been used much longer. First known use of “happy as as a clam” was 1833 versus “free as a bird” being used in the 17th century.
Most phrases have very small percentages, as they are measured against all other combinations of words in literature.
Since it’s an informal idiom, it’s also much more common in spoken than in written language.
Even with those small percentages, ‘free as a bird’ was twice as common.
Again, “happy as a clam” is very informal. “Free as a bird” is much less so, so it makes sense it pops up more often in literature.
It’s also been used much longer. First known use of “happy as as a clam” was 1833 versus “free as a bird” being used in the 17th century.