make my day

1. To make someone very happy: “You won first prize? Now that really makes my day!” The saying dates to the beginning of the twentieth century, but it gained popularity with its use by Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry movies and, later, by President Ronald Reagan .

Idioms and Phrases

see make one's day .

Example Sentences

The defendant may nevertheless dare Merchan, as he did another judge threatening to jail him, to “make my day.”

From Los Angeles Times

He said his job had kept him motivated after his wife died and it was "the children that make my day".

From BBC

“I just dislike the pressure of making it romantic when really, if somebody handed me a rose on the street, that would make my day. Like, that’s all it takes,” she said.

From Seattle Times

“This makes me so happy. No f— way. I know it’s hard to make my day on Emmy day, but you just made my day.”

From Los Angeles Times

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdelaziz bin Salman, OPEC's most influential minister, famously warned financial speculators against betting heavily in the oil market in 2020, challenging those looking to short the market to "make my day".

From Reuters

Related Words

• confront
• disregard
• elude
• flout
• ignore
• mock
• oppose
• provoke
• resist
• ridicule
• spurn
• thwart
• violate
• withstand