Language tip of the week: to become happy again

In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.

This set of language tips will explore the words and phrases we use to talk about feelings. This week’s tip looks at verbs and phrases that mean to become happy again:

cheer up to become happy, or less sad:
Steve seems to have cheered up lately. ♦ ‘Cheer up,’ he said, ‘it can’t be that bad!’
bounce back to become happy, healthy or successful again, after something bad or disappointing has happened to you:
He’s sad about Sally leaving him, but he’ll bounce back. ♦ After an early defeat she bounced back to win the championship.
buck up to become happier:
I wish you’d buck up a bit. ♦ Buck up, it’s not the end of the world.
Buck up is informal and used mainly in spoken English.
brighten (up) to start looking or feeling happier:
She frowned anxiously, then suddenly her face brightened. ♦ He brightened up as he saw them enter the room.

Did you know that Macmillan Dictionary includes a full thesaurus? This page lists more ways to talk about ‘becoming happy again‘.