The pleasant or cheerful aspect of something, as in Beth always sees the sunny side of events like graduations. This idiom alludes to the area on which sunlight falls. [First half of 1800s]
on the sunny side of. At an age less than, younger than, as in He's still on the sunny side of forty. [Second half of 1800s]
sunny-side up. Fried so that the yolk remains intact and uppermost, as in I ordered my eggs sunny-side up and you brought me scrambled eggs. This expression transfers the appearance of the sun to that of an egg yolk. [c. 1900]
See sunny side in WNW Idioms
on the sunny side of
â
somewhat younger than (a specified age)
sunny side up
â
fried with the yolk unbroken and without being turned over two eggs sunny side up