What it means
Chuffed means properly pleased, that warm glow when something goes your way and you can’t quite hide the grin. You’re chuffed about a result, chuffed to bits over a gift, chuffed with how the day turned out. It is modest British happiness, big enough to feel but never showy.
Usage examples
"She was absolutely chuffed with the surprise party, kept saying she had no idea, hand over her mouth the whole time."
"Got my exam results back and I’m dead chuffed, all that revising in the library actually paid off for once."
"I was well chuffed when they said I got the job, did a little dance in the kitchen before I’d even hung up."
Where it comes from
Comes from the old dialect word chuff, meaning puffed up, plump and pleased with yourself. The happy sense won out in everyday British speech, so today being chuffed is just being quietly, thoroughly delighted.
Other ways to say it
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