Difference between “long happy life” and “long merry life”

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What's the difference between




"I wish you a long happy life."




and




"I wish you a long merry life."




I am especially interested about the cases when these adjectives are applied to a long period of time.










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    up vote
    3
    down vote

    favorite












    What's the difference between




    "I wish you a long happy life."




    and




    "I wish you a long merry life."




    I am especially interested about the cases when these adjectives are applied to a long period of time.










    share|improve this question

























      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      3
      down vote

      favorite











      What's the difference between




      "I wish you a long happy life."




      and




      "I wish you a long merry life."




      I am especially interested about the cases when these adjectives are applied to a long period of time.










      share|improve this question















      What's the difference between




      "I wish you a long happy life."




      and




      "I wish you a long merry life."




      I am especially interested about the cases when these adjectives are applied to a long period of time.







      meaning meaning-in-context






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      share|improve this question













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      share|improve this question








      edited Sep 4 at 4:31

























      asked Sep 4 at 4:07









      brilliant

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          1 Answer
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          down vote



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          We would use "merry" to describe someone's character or behavior (merry laughter/merry nature/merry eyes). It's also possible to use "merry" to emphasize something that you are saying, often when you want to express disapproval or humor (It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way). You might be thinking of the greeting Merry Christmas. I'd say that in this case "merry" is used in a kind of old-fashioned way. According to the Collins Dictionary, a merry sound or sight makes you feel cheerful.



          But we don't usually use "merry" to describe someone's life. Mind that in British English "merry" can also mean slightly drunk. So, in some contexts it may be OK to say "long merry life", but it wouldn't mean the same as "long happy life". Rather, you'd wish someone a long life of a person who likes booze. This may be not the only interpretation. Remember context is everything.



          According to the Online Oxford Collocation Dictionary, "happy life" is a natural collocation. But the dictionary doesn't say anything about "merry life". So, after all, it's not about a short or long period of time. It's about what the adjectives in question usually describe.






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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

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            1 Answer
            1






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes








            up vote
            6
            down vote



            accepted










            We would use "merry" to describe someone's character or behavior (merry laughter/merry nature/merry eyes). It's also possible to use "merry" to emphasize something that you are saying, often when you want to express disapproval or humor (It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way). You might be thinking of the greeting Merry Christmas. I'd say that in this case "merry" is used in a kind of old-fashioned way. According to the Collins Dictionary, a merry sound or sight makes you feel cheerful.



            But we don't usually use "merry" to describe someone's life. Mind that in British English "merry" can also mean slightly drunk. So, in some contexts it may be OK to say "long merry life", but it wouldn't mean the same as "long happy life". Rather, you'd wish someone a long life of a person who likes booze. This may be not the only interpretation. Remember context is everything.



            According to the Online Oxford Collocation Dictionary, "happy life" is a natural collocation. But the dictionary doesn't say anything about "merry life". So, after all, it's not about a short or long period of time. It's about what the adjectives in question usually describe.






            share|improve this answer


























              up vote
              6
              down vote



              accepted










              We would use "merry" to describe someone's character or behavior (merry laughter/merry nature/merry eyes). It's also possible to use "merry" to emphasize something that you are saying, often when you want to express disapproval or humor (It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way). You might be thinking of the greeting Merry Christmas. I'd say that in this case "merry" is used in a kind of old-fashioned way. According to the Collins Dictionary, a merry sound or sight makes you feel cheerful.



              But we don't usually use "merry" to describe someone's life. Mind that in British English "merry" can also mean slightly drunk. So, in some contexts it may be OK to say "long merry life", but it wouldn't mean the same as "long happy life". Rather, you'd wish someone a long life of a person who likes booze. This may be not the only interpretation. Remember context is everything.



              According to the Online Oxford Collocation Dictionary, "happy life" is a natural collocation. But the dictionary doesn't say anything about "merry life". So, after all, it's not about a short or long period of time. It's about what the adjectives in question usually describe.






              share|improve this answer
























                up vote
                6
                down vote



                accepted







                up vote
                6
                down vote



                accepted






                We would use "merry" to describe someone's character or behavior (merry laughter/merry nature/merry eyes). It's also possible to use "merry" to emphasize something that you are saying, often when you want to express disapproval or humor (It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way). You might be thinking of the greeting Merry Christmas. I'd say that in this case "merry" is used in a kind of old-fashioned way. According to the Collins Dictionary, a merry sound or sight makes you feel cheerful.



                But we don't usually use "merry" to describe someone's life. Mind that in British English "merry" can also mean slightly drunk. So, in some contexts it may be OK to say "long merry life", but it wouldn't mean the same as "long happy life". Rather, you'd wish someone a long life of a person who likes booze. This may be not the only interpretation. Remember context is everything.



                According to the Online Oxford Collocation Dictionary, "happy life" is a natural collocation. But the dictionary doesn't say anything about "merry life". So, after all, it's not about a short or long period of time. It's about what the adjectives in question usually describe.






                share|improve this answer














                We would use "merry" to describe someone's character or behavior (merry laughter/merry nature/merry eyes). It's also possible to use "merry" to emphasize something that you are saying, often when you want to express disapproval or humor (It hasn't stopped the British Navy proceeding on its merry way). You might be thinking of the greeting Merry Christmas. I'd say that in this case "merry" is used in a kind of old-fashioned way. According to the Collins Dictionary, a merry sound or sight makes you feel cheerful.



                But we don't usually use "merry" to describe someone's life. Mind that in British English "merry" can also mean slightly drunk. So, in some contexts it may be OK to say "long merry life", but it wouldn't mean the same as "long happy life". Rather, you'd wish someone a long life of a person who likes booze. This may be not the only interpretation. Remember context is everything.



                According to the Online Oxford Collocation Dictionary, "happy life" is a natural collocation. But the dictionary doesn't say anything about "merry life". So, after all, it's not about a short or long period of time. It's about what the adjectives in question usually describe.







                share|improve this answer














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                edited Sep 4 at 12:10

























                answered Sep 4 at 4:35









                Enguroo

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