3

I have this young character and I'm trying to describe his excitement through his body language. Is there any other words or expression which means "jumping up and down with excitement" or something with a similar meaning? For example:

The boy gently pulled his mother's hand "Come, mommy!" He jumped in excitement, wanting to go as soon as possible

Thank you!

Improve this question
3
  • 1
    Gently doesn't sound consistent with the excitement. Consider: "The boy sprang up from his chair, excitedly pulling his mother's hand ...".
    – Lawrence
    Commented May 19, 2016 at 12:58
  • @Lawrence Nice catch there. I completely missed that. In my story, the boy was not sitting down. "He ran through the grassland and reached his mother." Instead of ran through, what other ways could we say he was running, but in an excited way?
    – Blue
    Commented May 19, 2016 at 14:56
  • 1
    Try saying he skittered, danced or whooped through the grassland.
    – Lawrence
    Commented May 19, 2016 at 16:13

5 Answers 5

Reset to default
4

You could consider using “hopped about/around” in a suitable simile to try to capture the image you’re after:

He hopped about/around like a [an excited] baby bunny/chick/sparrow, wanting to go as soon as possible.

(example usage from ‘Jeeves and the Christmas Grotto’ [Chapter 1, paragraph 5] via ‘archiveofourown[dot]org’)

Improve this answer
4

A few synonyms pop up if you google excitement - exhilaration, elation, animation, enthusiasm, eagerness, anticipation, feverishness, fever, delirium, agitation, emotion, fire, fieriness, intensity, zeal, zest; informal pep, vim, zing, spark

You could also replace jumping with bouncing which seems better to convey the idea of excitement.

He was bouncing up and down with enthusiasm. How about that?

Improve this answer
1

What WS2 said. I would like to add this:

Jump for joy, from TFD

to be very happy about something good that has happened

"Tina jumped for joy when she found out she'd be in the team."

Leap at the opportunity, from TFD (leap/jump at the chance/opportunity)

Fig. to accept an opportunity eagerly.

"Frank leapt at the opportunity to become a commercial artist."
"It was a great idea and we leapt at the opportunity."
"I would leap at the chance to go to Moscow."
"His company proposed to send him to England, and John jumped at the chance."

Improve this answer
0

These are not the same as jumping but could describe body-language excitement:

Shiver (of delight). The definition only speaks about fear and cold though.

shiver (shĭv′ər) v.intr. 1. To shake or tremble, as from cold or fear. See Synonyms at shake. 2. To quiver or vibrate, as by the force of the wind.

Thrill

thrill (thrĭl) v.tr. 1. To cause to feel a sudden sensation of pleasure or delight; excite greatly: was thrilled to learn that she had won the contest. 2. To cause to quiver, tremble, or vibrate.

Improve this answer
0

Perhaps Giddy, from MW

feeling or showing great happiness and joy

Or from TFD

2. Frivolous and lighthearted; flighty: was giddy with excitement at the news.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .