On a happier note

Question

Hi everyone,I have trouble explaining this idiom "on a happier note" to my students. I checked several dictionaries, but none of them could explain what it is. Hope you can give me some clues. Here is the text where I read the phrase.In 1972, Munich witnesses tragic scenes when the city staged the Olympic Games. Five Israeli athletes and a German policeman were killed by Palestinian terrorists, who took members of the Israeli. Olympic team hostage in the Olympic village. "On a happier note," the same Olympic Stadium complex staged several games during the 1974 Soccer World Cup, including the final in which Germany beat Holland 2-1.It is a long paragraph. I guess "on a happier note" means some good event happened. What do you think? I sometimes find idioms too difficult to interpret into another language. Thanks for your opinions in advance.Gloria

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Hi everyone, I have trouble explaining this idiom "on a happier note" to my students. I checked several dictionaries, but ... you think? I sometimes find idioms too difficult to interpret into another language. Thanks for your opinions in advance. Gloria[/nq]
Usually the unhappy part isn't so gruesome.
Try something like,"infortunately it raining and the outside recess is canceled, but on a happier note the math test has been postponed nd we will spend the time eating cake and ice cream.".

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hi everyone, I have trouble explaining this idiom "on a happier note" to my students. I checked several dictionaries, but ... do you think? I sometimes find idioms too difficult to interpret into another language. Thanks for your opinions in advance.[/nq]
This use of "note" derives from an analogy with musical notes.

Music can convey moods of sadness, solemnity, lightness and happiness, etc.
The phrase "on a happier note" indicates a change of mood (human not grammatical) from a less happy mood.
Phrases of the form "on a(n) note" announce a change in the seriousness or emotional nature of what is being said.

This is sometimes done by indicating a change of subject.

For example a manager in a business might say in a speech or newsletter to employees:
".
On a sporting note I wish to congratulate Miss A who beat ten men to win the local oyster-eating competition."

We also talk of a person, speech, document, or whatever, "striking the wrong note", meaning that the style or mood of the words is inappropriate to the subject or circumstances.
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I have trouble explaining this idiom "on a happier note" to my students. I checked several dictionaries, but none of ... Germany beat Holland 2-1. It is a long paragraph. I guess "on a happier note" means some good event happened.[/nq]
This is a metaphor, i.e. should not be interpreted literally. It combines two ideas:
Association of music (sounds) with an event;
Particular sounds (notes) in music are either sad or happy. The model sentence emphasizes a contrast between
sports events in Munich in the 1970s: first the Munich Massacre of 1972, a sad event; then World Cup soccer games of 1974, a happy event. That is all. "Happy event" is here a mere rhetorical decoration, that adds no real information.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

On a happier note

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions