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-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.
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.