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This study examines the linguistic contexts in which two idiomatic expressions connected to the orientational metaphor HAPPY IS UP most frequently occur. Specifically, it analysed how the idioms cloud nine and over the moon are used by American speakers of English when expressing happiness in different situations. Using a corpus-based method, the linguistic data was extracted from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA) and categorized into different themes. The results from the collected and examined data show that the idioms cloud nine and over the moon are most commonly used by American English speakers when expressing happiness related to personal accomplishments (such as professional or academic success), love (including familial- and romantic relationships), and satisfaction with outcomes beyond the speaker´s control. The evidence obtained shows that the frequency of usage of the chosen idioms vary across genre. Both cloud nine and over the moon are more commonly used in spoken language than in written texts. In conclusion, this study presents some insights into how idioms reflect emotional experiences and the cognitive linguistic conceptualization of happiness.