# Who decided that clams were so happy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 27, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253 "2009-01-27T18:16:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beelzebabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Beelzebabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beelzebabe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/1 "2009-01-27T18:16:15Z")
Where did the phrase “Happy as a clam” originate? Why are clams considered to be happy? I mean, the only time I even see a clam is when I’m about to eat it, and it doesn’t seem like that would be such a happy situation for the clam. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/2 "2009-01-27T18:20:04Z")
Clams have two basic biological functions: 1. Eat 2. Have Sex Questions? ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/3 "2009-01-27T18:22:04Z")
> **[World Wide Words: Happy as a clam](http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-hap1.htm)** > > Do you have any idea of the origins of the phrase 'happy as a clam'? ---
**Author:** ![Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tool_of_the_Conspiracy)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/4 "2009-01-27T18:22:37Z")
It’s a shortened version of the older expression “happy as a clam at high tide”. When the tide is in, clams are safe from humans trying to dig them up. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/5 "2009-01-27T18:25:31Z")
> **[As Happy As A Clam - Meaning & Origin Of The Phrase](https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/as-happy-as-a-clam.html)** > > What's the meaning and origin of the phrase 'As happy as a clam'? > [@](#): > > The phrase originated in the north-eastern states of the USA in the early 19th century. The earliest citation that I can find is from a frontier memoir The Harpe’s Head - A Legend of Kentucky, 1833: > > ``` > "It never occurred to him to be discontented... He was as happy as a clam." > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/6 "2009-01-27T18:31:20Z")
> [@Tool\_of\_the\_Conspiracy](#): > > It’s a shortened version of the older expression “happy as a clam at high tide”. The way I heard it, it was ‘as happy as a clam in its bed’. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-decided-that-clams-were-so-happy/483253/7 "2009-01-27T19:01:29Z")
I had always assumed it had to do with a closed clam shell looking like a very broad wide smile. Maybe that’s just me.