childlike glee

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "childlike glee" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of uncontrollable joy and excitement, as when a child is overjoyed. For example, "The woman jumped up and down with childlike glee when she heard the good news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Singhal looks at me with childlike glee.

The Guardian - Tech

Indeed, they embraced pulsation and repetition with an almost childlike glee.

The New Yorker

The Andalusian painter Paco Pomet's work made me smile with a childlike glee.

Independent

Mr. Alaton takes an almost childlike glee in watching that happen.

The New York Times

He discusses the Kick-Ass films, adapted from the comics he authored, with childlike glee.

The Guardian - Film

After the childlike glee of the cheese, dessert was far more adult in its barely sweet complexity.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

You paint a gripping portrait of Andy in the book, especially of his constant activity as a kind of mask for his loneliness… He also enjoyed it with a sort of childlike zest and glee that I stopped having.

The Guardian - Books

Sports at their best are supposed to reduce us to childlike states of glee and awe, but when we're talking about taking a team away from one group of fans and giving it to another, we turn into the wrong kind of children self-centered little prichildren self-centered they hurt.

Vice

Simon Valastro, the Alain at both performances, achieved all of this perfectly, with a concentrated stare of manic glee or childlike apprehension that was amusing and touching.

The New York Times - Arts

Even when the vixen and her cubs duly emerged, the childlike composer was so thrilled that his yelps of glee finally sent the foxes back to their lair.

The Guardian - Music

The trope is in transit: a childlike joy in breaking open the repository of goodies inside has, in recent years, been replaced by the fiendish glee of scandalmongers in striking down the object of their disaffection.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "childlike glee" to effectively convey a sense of pure, unadulterated joy, especially in contexts where innocence or naiveté is relevant. This phrase is particularly useful for describing reactions to simple pleasures or unexpected delights.

Common error

Avoid using "childlike glee" in contexts that demand solemnity or seriousness. Its connotations of innocence and naiveté can undermine the gravity of the situation and appear inappropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "childlike glee" functions as a noun phrase, where "childlike" is an adjective modifying the noun "glee". It vividly describes a specific type of happiness characterized by innocence and uninhibited expression. As Ludwig demonstrates, it commonly appears in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "childlike glee" is a commonly used phrase that effectively communicates a sense of pure and innocent happiness. As validated by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to consider the formality of the context, as more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "unfeigned delight". Ultimately, "childlike glee" remains a vivid and evocative way to describe a specific type of joy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

childlike delight

Replaces "glee" with "delight", suggesting a slightly more refined or gentle form of happiness.

childlike joy

Substitutes "glee" with "joy", indicating a more profound and sustained feeling of happiness.

childlike excitement

Emphasizes the enthusiastic and eager aspect of the emotion, rather than the pure happiness.

youthful exuberance

Shifts the focus to the energetic and lively quality of the emotion, common in youth.

innocent amusement

Highlights the purity and lack of malice in the enjoyment.

unrestrained joy

Focuses on the lack of inhibition in expressing happiness.

naive pleasure

Suggests a simple and unsophisticated enjoyment.

untamed happiness

Implies a wild and uncontrolled sense of joy.

pure elation

Replaces both words with stronger synonyms, indicating a heightened state of joy.

unadulterated joy

Stresses the genuine and unmixed nature of the happiness.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "childlike glee" in a sentence?

Use "childlike glee" to describe a reaction of pure, uninhibited joy, often in response to something simple or innocent. For example, "She clapped her hands with "childlike glee" when she saw the puppy."

What are some alternatives to "childlike glee" that I can use?

You can use alternatives such as "childlike delight", "youthful exuberance", or "innocent amusement" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "childlike glee" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "childlike glee" is more suited to informal or descriptive writing. In formal contexts, consider using alternatives that convey joy with more restraint, such as "sincere pleasure" or "unfeigned delight".

What's the difference between "childlike glee" and "childlike joy"?

"Childlike glee" suggests a more spontaneous, effervescent burst of happiness, while "childlike joy" implies a deeper, more abiding sense of happiness. "Glee" is more fleeting and expressive.