bright-eyed and bushy-tailed

phrase

informal
: happy and full of energy
He arrived all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bright-eyed%20and%20bushy-tailed. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster