Phrase: happy as a clam; happy as a clam at high water

[Eric Nielsen]

Maybe the "at high tide" part referred to one kind of clam:

Some clams are happy because at high tide* they* can eat. Around this neck
of the woods, the steamer clams (Mya arenaria*)* are not under water at low
tide and have to wait until the tide comes in to filter feed. The Quahog
(Mercenaria mercenaria) is usually always submerged.

Of course I'm supposing that eating makes a clam happy.

Eric
On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 11:10 PM, Dave Hause <dwhause at cablemo.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dave Hause <dwhause at CABLEMO.NET>
> Subject:      Re: Phrase: happy as a clam; happy as a clam at high water
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Happiest seem to be the bearded ones.
> Dave Hause
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "W Brewer" <brewerwa at GMAIL.COM>
>
> GO'T: <<the likelihood of being eaten can make a clam happy too. Imputed
> clam psychology is odd.>>
> WB:  Sorry, Charlie! His quest for good taste cost Charlie Tuna his sole
> goal in life. And just look at a shmoo and it'd jump into yer frying pan.
> Seems like a lethal mutation there.
>
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