Reader's question:

Going to bed early is key to getting enough sleep and helping adolescents feel on top of the world, a new study reported. Could you explain “on top of the world”?

My comments:

If you’re on top of the world, say, standing atop of Mount Everest, you feel high.

Obviously. Metaphorically speaking, when people say they feel they’re on top of the world, they feel extremely good of themselves – everything is going well for them.

In the above example, when doctors say going to bed early helps youngsters feel on top of the world, they’re merely saying sufficient sleep make they refreshed, energetic, rejuvenated…

And raring to go, ready to take on the whole world.

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Go to Zhang Xin's column

本文僅代表作者本人觀點，與本網立場無關。歡迎大家討論學術問題，尊重他人，禁止人身攻擊和發布一切違反國家現行法律法規的內容。

Zhang Xin has been with China Daily since 1988, when he graduated from Beijing Foreign Studies University. Write him at: zhangxin@chinadaily.com.cn, or raise a question for potential use in a future column.