What it means
Means absolutely delighted, really pleased, the sort of happy that’s written all over your face even if you’re trying to play it cool. Very British, very everyday, and often said when something’s gone properly your way, like landing the job, passing a test, or finding out some cracking news.
Usage examples
"Passed my driving test first go. Dad tried to play it cool, but he was chuffed to bits and took everyone for a fry-up."
"She was chuffed to bits when they offered her the job on the spot."
"We're chuffed to bits with the new place, took ages to find it."
"He got front row tickets for the gig and’s been chuffed to bits about it all week."
"Nan was chuffed to bits when the kids turned up with flowers and a card."
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Where it comes from
Chuffed is recorded in British English from the 1950s meaning pleased or delighted, though the deeper root is disputed, so the exact trail before that isn’t nailed down. The add-on to bits is a British intensifier, same idea as saying completely or terribly, so chuffed to bits just means delighted through and through.
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