happy hunting ground

A utopia. Used by Native Americans to describe the afterlife. The annual car swap meet is a happy hunting ground for automotive enthusiasts. I'm sorry, but no town is going to be a happy hunting ground. We have to take the good with the bad wherever we live.

See also: ground, happy, hunting

happy hunting ground

A place where one can find or do what one wishes without restriction. For example, The North Shore is a happy hunting ground for antique collectors. This term alludes to the Native American idea of an afterlife where hunters find unlimited game. [Early 1800s]

See also: ground, happy, hunting

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

happy hunting ground

a place where success or enjoyment is obtained.

This phrase originally referred to the optimistic hope of Native Americans that the afterlife will be spent in a country where there are good hunting grounds.

1991 Antique Collector With Old Master drawings still considered an undervalued genre, this should prove a happy hunting ground for those in search of a bargain.

See also: ground, happy, hunting

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a happy ˈhunting ground

(humorous) a very good place to find what you want: The Sunday antique market is a happy hunting ground for collectors.

See also: ground, happy, hunting

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

happy hunting ground

Heaven; a place of abundance, replete with what one wants. The idea comes from the beliefs of Native American tribes that after death they will go to a paradise with an abundance of game and therefore always have enough to eat. The term appears in the works of James Fenimore Cooper and other writers on Indian subjects. As Cooper wrote in The Pathfinder (1840), “‘Do the dead of the savages ever walk?’ demanded Cap. ‘Ay, and run, too, in their happy hunting grounds.’” Later the term became a euphemism for death, and still later it was transferred to any place of abundant treasures.

See also: ground, happy, hunting

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References in periodicals archive

"It has been a happy hunting ground for us recently and let's hope we can get a result.

Reebok victory would bring Bruce three cheers

34 RYE House's Hoddesdon track has never been a happy hunting ground for the Berwick Bandits and in 2012 it became a living nightmare with Saturday night's crushing defeat.

Berwick's bad night

This has not always been a happy hunting ground for us."

ROCHDALE 1 MKDONS 2

The Liberty has been a happy hunting ground in the past for Ramsey (pictured right).

Rambo had no Wales say, says Wenger

LEE SLATTERY heads to a happy hunting ground this week as he aims to clinch a place at the European Tour's lucrative finale.

SLATTERY SIGHTS ON SPOT PRIZE; GOLF

And the 30-year-old, who joined in the summer from junior side Sunnybank, said: "Victoria Park is a happy hunting ground for me.

Victoria lark for Somers; HIGHLAND

Everton v Sunderland predictions GORDON MABON WHILE this has never been a happy hunting ground for us, my hopes took a further dive when I read Stuart Attwell is to referee tomorrow's game!

PUNTER PANEL

Lingfield has been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Scot and this Dubai Destination colt looked a sure-fire winner on his debut at Newcastle in September.

Johnston has winning look

IAN Bell is back on happy hunting ground in Manchester this week when he aims to help Warwickshire clinch the championship runners-up spot with victory over Lancashire.

Bell's ground for optimism; CRICKET

County deserved their success at a stadium which has always proved a happy hunting ground and should have built a substantial first-half lead when Sam Foley, in particular, had some good chances.

Thompson misses out

But having started the European Tour season with four successive top tens, including runners-up finishes in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, Westwood is hoping a return to a happy hunting ground will provide a timely boost just before the first major of the season.

Sports World: Golf

MAESYDRE has not always proved a happy hunting ground for The NewSaints, but the league leaders had fewproblems in maintaining their title push with victory over the Lilwyhites.

Football: Saints still out on the top; WELSH PREMIER

Since then Wolves have won three and drawn six of their visits to what has become a happy hunting ground.

WOLVES NEWS: WOLVES will put a formidable Loftus Road

WOLVES turned the tables on the merchants of doom as Molineux finally became a happy hunting ground for Dave Jones's promotion-hungry pack.

Football: Joy of six puts smile back on Dave's face; Wolves 6 Gillingham 0