Many happy returns definition.

What many happy returns mean. COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Many happy returns is a special phrase. Many happy returns Many happy returns is a greeting which is used by some on birthdays and by others in response to Happy New Year.

The return refers to the passage of a single year and the recurrence of the birthday. Happy birthday and many more of them as in I came by to wish you many happy returns. Meaning pronunciation translations and examples.

It is now primarily used on birthdays. On the surface it isnt obvious how much of that came from investment growth and how much came from your own contributions. For my Best Friend.

The Yiddish blessing Biz a hundert un tsvantsik--May you reach 120--is often used as a birthday wish like the English Many happy returns of the day The Hebrew equivalent ad meak vesrim though ubiquitous at Israeli birthday celebrations hasnt caught on as much among American Jews. Obviously this also works just as well for annual occasions like Christmas New Years Arbor Day etc. May the day your birthday return many times to you and may you be happy.

The term itself refers to the passing year. The full phrase Many happy returns of the day means exactly what it says. Intuitively the above formula makes sense but its easy to be misled.

Cambridge Dictionary Plus Mein Profil. Since the 18th century this has been used as a salutation to offer the hope that a happy day being marked would recur many more times. Idiomatic A greeting usually for birthdays in reference to the passing year.