- Meaning
- This idiom describes being in excellent health, high spirits, or optimal condition, radiating vitality and well-being, as if glowing with the vibrant hue of pink. It conveys a state of physical or emotional flourishing, often used in personal, social, or health-related contexts to express positivity or recovery. The phrase carries a cheerful, upbeat tone, reflecting cultural associations of pink with youth, vigor, and optimism, and often implies a contrast with illness or struggle. It captures the joy of feeling at one’s best, resonating in societies that value health and positivity, and can extend metaphorically to describe anything in top form, from people to organizations.
- Origin
- The phrase likely emerged in 16th-century England, tied to the use of ‘pink’ as a term for the finest example of something, derived from the Dianthus flower (pinks) symbolizing perfection. An early use appears in William Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet* (1597), where Mercutio describes someone as ‘the pink of courtesy,’ meaning the epitome of grace. The modern health-related meaning developed in the late 19th century, reflecting Victorian ideals of robust vitality, as seen in an 1890 *Punch* article noting someone ‘in the pink’ after recovery. Its adoption in American English grew during the 20th century, particularly in medical and social contexts, amplified by early 1900s slang associating pink with rosy cheeks and health, as documented in H.L. Mencken’s *The American Language*. The phrase’s spread was fueled by post-World War II optimism, appearing in advertisements and literature like J.D. Salinger’s *The Catcher in the Rye* (1951). Its evocative imagery and positive connotations ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from casual greetings to health campaigns.
- Variants
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- In the pink
- In the pink of health
- In the pink of condition
- Feeling in the pink
- Examples
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- After months of rehab, he’s in the pink, running marathons again.
- In the pink of health, she glowed with energy at the family reunion.
- The company is in the pink of condition, posting record profits.
- Feeling in the pink, he tackled his work with renewed enthusiasm.
- In the pink after her vacation, she returned to work full of ideas.
- The team is in the pink, ready to dominate the upcoming competition.
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