When you're feeling really happy, you can say that you are “as happy as a clam.” In fact the whole phrase is “as happy as a clam at high tide,” but most people only say the first part. Why do you think clams are happy at high tide?
Clams live in the mud underneath the ocean. To catch clams, people go out into the shallow part of the ocean near the shore and drag a rake through the mud. When they feel the rake hit a clam, they use the rake to pull it out of the mud.
However, people can only do this at low tide because at high tide the water is too deep. If you were a clam, you would feel really happy at high tide because you wouldn't have to worry about somebody coming to catch you!
PHOTO: EPA
Next time you're feeling really happy, tell your friends that you're feeling “happy as a clam.” (Marc Langer, staff writer)
當你感到很開心，你可以說你「as happy as a clam」。其實整句話是「as happy as a clam at high tide」，但多數人只說前半部，你覺得蛤蠣為何在漲潮時會感到快樂呢？
蛤蠣棲息在海底的泥土中，人們要抓到蛤蠣時，得走到岸邊的淺海區，拖著耙，掃過泥土，感覺打到蛤蠣時，便用耙將之拉出泥濘。
然而，人們只能在低潮時進行，因為漲潮時水太深，如果你是蛤蠣，漲潮時就會很開心，因為不必擔心有人會來抓你。
下次你感到很開心時，告訴你的朋友，你覺得「as happy as a clam」。
（翻譯︰鄭湘儀）
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