happily-ever-after
UK[ˌhæp.ɪ.li ˌev.ər ˈɑːf.tər]US[ˌhæp.ɪ.li ˌev.ər ˈæf.tər]
n
the state of perfect and permanent happiness, especially as the conventional ending of a fairy tale.
n
an idealized, often unrealistic, vision of a perfect future life.
Etymology
the phrase "happily ever after" is a fixed idiomatic compound originating from the conventional closing formula of western fairy tales, most famously popularized in english by the translations of the brothers grimm and the works of hans christian andersen. it is a calque, or loan translation, of earlier european phrases such as the french "ils vécurent heureux et eurent beaucoup d'enfants" ("they lived happily and had many children"). the logic of the phrase hinges on the sequential adverbs "happily" and "ever after," combining to project a singular, timeless state of bliss following the story's climax. over time, this narrative cliché lexicalized into a noun phrase, "happily-ever-after," used to denote both the idealized fairy-tale ending and, by extension, any naively optimistic expectation of perpetual perfect happiness in real life.
Analysis
n/a
Examples
the children's book concluded with the prince and princess living happily-ever-after.
she realized that real relationships require work and aren't just a fairy-tale happily-ever-after.
the film subverts the classic happily-ever-after by showing the challenges the couple faces after their wedding.