hats off (to someone)

hats off (to someone)

A phrase used to express congratulations to someone. (The removal of one's hat is typically a gesture of respect.) Hats off to you for getting the big promotion! A: "I managed to get the highest number of sales this quarter!" B: "Wow, hats off! That's not easy to do!" Hats off to you, getting an A in that impossible Restoration literature class!

See also: hat, off

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

hats off to someone or something

Fig. let us salute or honor someone or something. Hat's off to Perry for planning the dinner and finding such a good band.

See also: hat, off, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

hats off to

Congratulations to, as in Hats off to Claire! She's set a new record for the mile. This expression alludes to taking off one's hat as a sign of respect. [Mid-1800s]

See also: hat, off, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.