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What's the origin of the phrase 'Many happy returns'? 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. It is now primarily used on birthdays; prior to the mid 19th century it was used more generally, at any celebratory or festive event.
The meaning of (MANY) HAPPY RETURNS is —used for wishing someone a happy birthday and to express the hope that he or she will live to celebrate many more birthdays in the future.
Many happy returns. | Grammarist. | Phrase. Many happy returns is a shortening of a longer phrase that has been in use since the 1700s. We will examine the meaning of the term many happy return s, the original phrase it is derived from, and some examples of its use in sentences.
Happy birthday and many more of them, as in I came by to wish you many happy returns. This expression was first recorded in a letter of 1779 where the writer meant "Happy New Year," but the present meaning has persisted since the second half of the 1800s. See also: happy, many, return.
4 days ago · many happy returns in British English. or many happy returns of the day. a conventional greeting to someone on his or her birthday. See full dictionary entry for return. Collins English Dictionary.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS (OF THE DAY) definition: 1. said to mean "Happy birthday" 2. said to mean "Happy birthday". Learn more.
Also, many happy returns of the day. Happy birthday and many more of them, as in I came by to wish you many happy returns. This expression was first recorded in a letter of 1779 where the writer meant “Happy New Year,” but the present meaning has persisted since the second half of the 1800s.
