happy hunting ground

noun

1
: the paradise of some American Indian tribes to which the souls of warriors and hunters pass after death to spend a happy hereafter in hunting and feasting
2
: a choice or profitable area of activity or exploitation

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Those looking for small, focused and highly-profitable firms that make all sorts of components, from robotic arms to bicycle gear, will find Japan to be a happy hunting ground. Fortune, 15 Dec. 2021 London has not been a happy hunting ground for Miami, who are 1-3 on the other side of the Atlantic. Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 11 Oct. 2021 This has long made West Virginia a happy hunting ground for corporate interests eager to extract resources and profits. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 July 2021 In years past, Michael Gudinski made the APRA Awards a happy hunting ground, often snagging multiple awards with his company, Mushroom Music Publishing. Billboard Staff, Billboard, 28 Apr. 2021 The crumbling cliffs along it, dating from the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods, are a happy hunting ground for anyone seeking the fossilized remains of ancient creatures. Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'happy hunting ground.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of happy hunting ground was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near happy hunting ground

Cite this Entry

“Happy hunting ground.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/happy%20hunting%20ground. Accessed 22 Mar. 2023.

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