What does the expression “Happy is as happy does” mean?What does it mean to be saddled with debt?What...

I hate taking lectures, can I still survive in academia?

What does an unprocessed RAW file look like?

What does “to the numbers” mean in landing clearance?

What is the difference between crontab -e and nano /etc/crontab?

Why is quixotic not Quixotic (a proper adjective)?

How can I differentiate duration vs starting time

Can you wish for more wishes from an Efreeti bound to service via an Efreeti Bottle?

How to scroll to next div using Javascript?

How many copper coins fit inside a cubic foot?

Is layered encryption more secure than long passwords?

How to encourage team to refactor

Can I use a larger HVAC Hard Start kit than is recommended?

What did Putin say about a US deep state in his state-of-the-nation speech; what has he said in the past?

Reading source code and extracting json from a url

Stream.findFirst different than Optional.of?

How do I write a maintainable, fast, compile-time bit-mask in C++?

Is it common to refer to someone as "Prof. Dr. [LastName]"?

How do I add a strong "onion flavor" to the biryani (in restaurant style)?

Which was the first story to feature space elevators?

Why didn't Lorentz conclude that no object can go faster than light?

How do I handle a blinded enemy which wants to attack someone it's sure is there?

Found a major flaw in paper from home university – to which I would like to return

Where can I educate myself on D&D universe lore, specifically on vampires and supernatural monsters?

Why is Shelob considered evil?



What does the expression “Happy is as happy does” mean?


What does it mean to be saddled with debt?What does the phrase “listen to yourself” mean?How to use the expression “throw oneself into something”Slow and tiring. How to understand?What does “In line with this theme of competition comes the expression…” mean in this paragraph?What does “cue in to” mean?What does “opens to” mean in this sentence?What does “wrap around my head” mean?What is the meaning of “taking in each other's washing”What does but mean in the phrase “If they but knew it”













16















I just read an article in The Economist's China section (2019/02/16) with the subtitle "Happy is as happy is told to".



Feeling confused, I googled about this expression, only to find a quite similar expression: "Happy is as happy does".



What do these sentences mean? Are they grammatically correct?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

























    16















    I just read an article in The Economist's China section (2019/02/16) with the subtitle "Happy is as happy is told to".



    Feeling confused, I googled about this expression, only to find a quite similar expression: "Happy is as happy does".



    What do these sentences mean? Are they grammatically correct?










    share|improve this question









    New contributor




    Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      16












      16








      16


      1






      I just read an article in The Economist's China section (2019/02/16) with the subtitle "Happy is as happy is told to".



      Feeling confused, I googled about this expression, only to find a quite similar expression: "Happy is as happy does".



      What do these sentences mean? Are they grammatically correct?










      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      I just read an article in The Economist's China section (2019/02/16) with the subtitle "Happy is as happy is told to".



      Feeling confused, I googled about this expression, only to find a quite similar expression: "Happy is as happy does".



      What do these sentences mean? Are they grammatically correct?







      phrase-meaning idioms






      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question









      New contributor




      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited 1 hour ago









      V2Blast

      14518




      14518






      New contributor




      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      asked yesterday









      Mengzhen SUNMengzhen SUN

      22117




      22117




      New contributor




      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.





      New contributor





      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






      Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






















          3 Answers
          3






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          17














          The example from The Economist is a play on words on the idiom "happy is as happy does". Like many idioms, it can be tough to explain, and can appear to break lot of rules of normal grammar.




          Happy is as happy does.




          Basically means




          You make your own happiness by your actions.




          In other words, you cannot expect to be happy unless you do something to bring your happiness about.



          The Economist is taking the well-known idiom and tweaking it to (I presume) make a point that refers to the contents of the article. I'm going to guess and assume it means something like:




          You are as happy as you are told to be.




          I suspect the oldest form of this phrase is the proverb 'handsome is as handsome does', which has been used in various forms as far back as Chaucer. All the other versions are derivations of this original.






          share|improve this answer


























          • your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

            – Pureferret
            22 hours ago






          • 1





            @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

            – JimmyJames
            21 hours ago






          • 3





            The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago






          • 2





            Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

            – Janus Bahs Jacquet
            19 hours ago











          • @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago





















          14














          All right. So there is a line in the movie Forrest Gump that is "stupid is as stupid does". This expression means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.



          Other variations include "beauty is as beauty does" , "ugly is as ugly does", and of course, "happy is as happy does" in our case.






          share|improve this answer










          New contributor




          Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.





















          • Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

            – xizdaqrian
            19 hours ago











          • @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

            – EldritchWarlord
            18 hours ago



















          0














          I think it stems from an action focused frame of reference. Ideas such as you are your thoughts or you become what you do.



          Happy people do things that make them happy is my take on the saying under question... and then all the layers of cultural reference like Forest Gump which will make you grok Americans more if you have not watched it.






          share|improve this answer








          New contributor




          John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
          Check out our Code of Conduct.




















            Your Answer








            StackExchange.ready(function() {
            var channelOptions = {
            tags: "".split(" "),
            id: "481"
            };
            initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

            StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
            // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
            if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
            StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
            createEditor();
            });
            }
            else {
            createEditor();
            }
            });

            function createEditor() {
            StackExchange.prepareEditor({
            heartbeatType: 'answer',
            autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
            convertImagesToLinks: false,
            noModals: true,
            showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
            reputationToPostImages: null,
            bindNavPrevention: true,
            postfix: "",
            imageUploader: {
            brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
            contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
            allowUrls: true
            },
            noCode: true, onDemand: true,
            discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
            ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
            });


            }
            });






            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










            draft saved

            draft discarded


















            StackExchange.ready(
            function () {
            StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f197484%2fwhat-does-the-expression-happy-is-as-happy-does-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
            }
            );

            Post as a guest















            Required, but never shown

























            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes








            3 Answers
            3






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            17














            The example from The Economist is a play on words on the idiom "happy is as happy does". Like many idioms, it can be tough to explain, and can appear to break lot of rules of normal grammar.




            Happy is as happy does.




            Basically means




            You make your own happiness by your actions.




            In other words, you cannot expect to be happy unless you do something to bring your happiness about.



            The Economist is taking the well-known idiom and tweaking it to (I presume) make a point that refers to the contents of the article. I'm going to guess and assume it means something like:




            You are as happy as you are told to be.




            I suspect the oldest form of this phrase is the proverb 'handsome is as handsome does', which has been used in various forms as far back as Chaucer. All the other versions are derivations of this original.






            share|improve this answer


























            • your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

              – Pureferret
              22 hours ago






            • 1





              @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

              – JimmyJames
              21 hours ago






            • 3





              The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago






            • 2





              Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              19 hours ago











            • @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago


















            17














            The example from The Economist is a play on words on the idiom "happy is as happy does". Like many idioms, it can be tough to explain, and can appear to break lot of rules of normal grammar.




            Happy is as happy does.




            Basically means




            You make your own happiness by your actions.




            In other words, you cannot expect to be happy unless you do something to bring your happiness about.



            The Economist is taking the well-known idiom and tweaking it to (I presume) make a point that refers to the contents of the article. I'm going to guess and assume it means something like:




            You are as happy as you are told to be.




            I suspect the oldest form of this phrase is the proverb 'handsome is as handsome does', which has been used in various forms as far back as Chaucer. All the other versions are derivations of this original.






            share|improve this answer


























            • your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

              – Pureferret
              22 hours ago






            • 1





              @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

              – JimmyJames
              21 hours ago






            • 3





              The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago






            • 2





              Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              19 hours ago











            • @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago
















            17












            17








            17







            The example from The Economist is a play on words on the idiom "happy is as happy does". Like many idioms, it can be tough to explain, and can appear to break lot of rules of normal grammar.




            Happy is as happy does.




            Basically means




            You make your own happiness by your actions.




            In other words, you cannot expect to be happy unless you do something to bring your happiness about.



            The Economist is taking the well-known idiom and tweaking it to (I presume) make a point that refers to the contents of the article. I'm going to guess and assume it means something like:




            You are as happy as you are told to be.




            I suspect the oldest form of this phrase is the proverb 'handsome is as handsome does', which has been used in various forms as far back as Chaucer. All the other versions are derivations of this original.






            share|improve this answer















            The example from The Economist is a play on words on the idiom "happy is as happy does". Like many idioms, it can be tough to explain, and can appear to break lot of rules of normal grammar.




            Happy is as happy does.




            Basically means




            You make your own happiness by your actions.




            In other words, you cannot expect to be happy unless you do something to bring your happiness about.



            The Economist is taking the well-known idiom and tweaking it to (I presume) make a point that refers to the contents of the article. I'm going to guess and assume it means something like:




            You are as happy as you are told to be.




            I suspect the oldest form of this phrase is the proverb 'handsome is as handsome does', which has been used in various forms as far back as Chaucer. All the other versions are derivations of this original.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday









            Jasper

            17.9k43568




            17.9k43568










            answered yesterday









            fred2fred2

            1,497513




            1,497513













            • your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

              – Pureferret
              22 hours ago






            • 1





              @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

              – JimmyJames
              21 hours ago






            • 3





              The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago






            • 2





              Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              19 hours ago











            • @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago





















            • your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

              – Pureferret
              22 hours ago






            • 1





              @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

              – JimmyJames
              21 hours ago






            • 3





              The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago






            • 2





              Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

              – Janus Bahs Jacquet
              19 hours ago











            • @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

              – fred2
              19 hours ago



















            your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

            – Pureferret
            22 hours ago





            your definitition doesn't match my experience, not your 'oldest form' example. How does it fit to 'You make your own 'handsomeness' by your actions'?

            – Pureferret
            22 hours ago




            1




            1





            @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

            – JimmyJames
            21 hours ago





            @Pureferret The link provided also disagrees it says 'handsome is ...' means "Good deeds are more important that good looks."

            – JimmyJames
            21 hours ago




            3




            3





            The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago





            The phrase means different things depending on what the main word is, but always with the sense that 'actions are what matters'. So, no, it doesn't mean 'you make your own handsomeness', but it means 'you are as handsome as the "handsome" (ie good) deeds that you do'.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago




            2




            2





            Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

            – Janus Bahs Jacquet
            19 hours ago





            Grammatically, the as in this expression is a relative pronoun (if you have access to the OED, it’s sense 21a of as there), here used in an old-fashioned ‘doubly reversed’ type of phrase that’s actually a fused relative construction: Happy is as happy does → Happy is who happy does → Happy is who does happy → Happy is (s)he who does happy → (S)he who does happy is happy. (‘Doing happy’ then means to portray happiness in one’s doing.)

            – Janus Bahs Jacquet
            19 hours ago













            @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago







            @JanusBahsJacquet I lost my access to OED a few years back, and I'm still in mourning. Great comment, once again illustrating the baroque levels of complexity that can be involved in even simple phrases.

            – fred2
            19 hours ago















            14














            All right. So there is a line in the movie Forrest Gump that is "stupid is as stupid does". This expression means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.



            Other variations include "beauty is as beauty does" , "ugly is as ugly does", and of course, "happy is as happy does" in our case.






            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





















            • Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

              – xizdaqrian
              19 hours ago











            • @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

              – EldritchWarlord
              18 hours ago
















            14














            All right. So there is a line in the movie Forrest Gump that is "stupid is as stupid does". This expression means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.



            Other variations include "beauty is as beauty does" , "ugly is as ugly does", and of course, "happy is as happy does" in our case.






            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





















            • Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

              – xizdaqrian
              19 hours ago











            • @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

              – EldritchWarlord
              18 hours ago














            14












            14








            14







            All right. So there is a line in the movie Forrest Gump that is "stupid is as stupid does". This expression means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.



            Other variations include "beauty is as beauty does" , "ugly is as ugly does", and of course, "happy is as happy does" in our case.






            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.










            All right. So there is a line in the movie Forrest Gump that is "stupid is as stupid does". This expression means an intelligent person who does stupid things is still stupid. You are what you do.



            Other variations include "beauty is as beauty does" , "ugly is as ugly does", and of course, "happy is as happy does" in our case.







            share|improve this answer










            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited yesterday









            CowperKettle

            28.9k1091170




            28.9k1091170






            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered yesterday









            Mengzhen SUNMengzhen SUN

            22117




            22117




            New contributor




            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





            New contributor





            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.













            • Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

              – xizdaqrian
              19 hours ago











            • @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

              – EldritchWarlord
              18 hours ago



















            • Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

              – xizdaqrian
              19 hours ago











            • @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

              – EldritchWarlord
              18 hours ago

















            Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

            – xizdaqrian
            19 hours ago





            Yeah. In the particular context of using something esoteric, like "stupid, pretty, handsome," etc, the actions make the correct impression on other people. "Pretty is as pretty does" means that someone's real beauty is determined by how one treats people. Good observation!

            – xizdaqrian
            19 hours ago













            @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

            – EldritchWarlord
            18 hours ago





            @xizdaqrian Or we could be a little more reductive and say "pretty is as pretty does" means someone who is pretty has done something to make themselves pretty. Same for happy, stupid, ugly, smart, celebrity, or whatever other variation you might have encountered. I've always thought that the point of the adage was that you could attain or avoid the same status someone else has by adopting or avoiding their behavior.

            – EldritchWarlord
            18 hours ago











            0














            I think it stems from an action focused frame of reference. Ideas such as you are your thoughts or you become what you do.



            Happy people do things that make them happy is my take on the saying under question... and then all the layers of cultural reference like Forest Gump which will make you grok Americans more if you have not watched it.






            share|improve this answer








            New contributor




            John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.

























              0














              I think it stems from an action focused frame of reference. Ideas such as you are your thoughts or you become what you do.



              Happy people do things that make them happy is my take on the saying under question... and then all the layers of cultural reference like Forest Gump which will make you grok Americans more if you have not watched it.






              share|improve this answer








              New contributor




              John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.























                0












                0








                0







                I think it stems from an action focused frame of reference. Ideas such as you are your thoughts or you become what you do.



                Happy people do things that make them happy is my take on the saying under question... and then all the layers of cultural reference like Forest Gump which will make you grok Americans more if you have not watched it.






                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.










                I think it stems from an action focused frame of reference. Ideas such as you are your thoughts or you become what you do.



                Happy people do things that make them happy is my take on the saying under question... and then all the layers of cultural reference like Forest Gump which will make you grok Americans more if you have not watched it.







                share|improve this answer








                New contributor




                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer






                New contributor




                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                answered 12 hours ago









                John DrinaneJohn Drinane

                11




                11




                New contributor




                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                New contributor





                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                John Drinane is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






















                    Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










                    draft saved

                    draft discarded


















                    Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                    Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                    Mengzhen SUN is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















                    Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!


                    • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                    But avoid



                    • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                    • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                    To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                    draft saved


                    draft discarded














                    StackExchange.ready(
                    function () {
                    StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f197484%2fwhat-does-the-expression-happy-is-as-happy-does-mean%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                    }
                    );

                    Post as a guest















                    Required, but never shown





















































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown

































                    Required, but never shown














                    Required, but never shown












                    Required, but never shown







                    Required, but never shown







                    Popular posts from this blog

                    Szabolcs (Ungheria) Altri progetti | Menu di navigazione48°10′14.56″N 21°29′33.14″E /...

                    Discografia di Klaus Schulze Indice Album in studio | Album dal vivo | Singoli | Antologie | Colonne...

                    How to make inet_server_addr() return localhost in spite of ::1/128RETURN NEXT in Postgres FunctionConnect to...