What does “Many, many happy returns of the day” mean in context of a birthday?





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Today I saw a birthday card which says:




Many, many happy returns of the day.




Can you help me understand what it means?










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  • Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
    – F'x
    Sep 3 '11 at 9:04












  • Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
    – user26251
    Sep 19 '12 at 12:20

















up vote
13
down vote

favorite
1












Today I saw a birthday card which says:




Many, many happy returns of the day.




Can you help me understand what it means?










share|improve this question
























  • Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
    – F'x
    Sep 3 '11 at 9:04












  • Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
    – user26251
    Sep 19 '12 at 12:20













up vote
13
down vote

favorite
1









up vote
13
down vote

favorite
1






1





Today I saw a birthday card which says:




Many, many happy returns of the day.




Can you help me understand what it means?










share|improve this question















Today I saw a birthday card which says:




Many, many happy returns of the day.




Can you help me understand what it means?







meaning expressions






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Sep 3 '11 at 18:20









Daniel

46.9k58229351




46.9k58229351










asked Sep 3 '11 at 4:22









Farm

174115




174115












  • Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
    – F'x
    Sep 3 '11 at 9:04












  • Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
    – user26251
    Sep 19 '12 at 12:20


















  • Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
    – F'x
    Sep 3 '11 at 9:04












  • Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
    – user26251
    Sep 19 '12 at 12:20
















Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
– F'x
Sep 3 '11 at 9:04






Hello SPP, welcome to EL&U. The meaning of this expression is explained both by online dictionaries and has its own Wikipedia page.
– F'x
Sep 3 '11 at 9:04














Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
– user26251
Sep 19 '12 at 12:20




Sounds too formal, if you ask me. But it looks good in print.
– user26251
Sep 19 '12 at 12:20










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

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up vote
24
down vote



accepted










Part of the phrase has been truncated. The full statement would read:



"[I hope you have] many happy returns of the day."



"The day" is your birthday, and if it returns "many times" it means that you will live to be quite an old person.






share|improve this answer




























    up vote
    2
    down vote













    Wikipedia explains the phrase as follows:




    The term itself refers to the passing year. 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.
    Current usage is often as a more formal option than 'Happy Birthday'. It is also often to be found on greetings cards.



    [...]



    An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit" that it is still found in "investment returns". Therefore "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness.




    The first explanation implies we are wishing that their birthday will return many more times - in other words, "May you live long".






    share|improve this answer



















    • 4




      Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
      – ShreevatsaR
      Sep 3 '11 at 4:47










    protected by RegDwigнt Sep 19 '12 at 12:58



    Thank you for your interest in this question.
    Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



    Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?














    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    24
    down vote



    accepted










    Part of the phrase has been truncated. The full statement would read:



    "[I hope you have] many happy returns of the day."



    "The day" is your birthday, and if it returns "many times" it means that you will live to be quite an old person.






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      24
      down vote



      accepted










      Part of the phrase has been truncated. The full statement would read:



      "[I hope you have] many happy returns of the day."



      "The day" is your birthday, and if it returns "many times" it means that you will live to be quite an old person.






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        24
        down vote



        accepted







        up vote
        24
        down vote



        accepted






        Part of the phrase has been truncated. The full statement would read:



        "[I hope you have] many happy returns of the day."



        "The day" is your birthday, and if it returns "many times" it means that you will live to be quite an old person.






        share|improve this answer












        Part of the phrase has been truncated. The full statement would read:



        "[I hope you have] many happy returns of the day."



        "The day" is your birthday, and if it returns "many times" it means that you will live to be quite an old person.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Sep 3 '11 at 4:34









        Kyle Pearson

        2,2651216




        2,2651216
























            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Wikipedia explains the phrase as follows:




            The term itself refers to the passing year. 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.
            Current usage is often as a more formal option than 'Happy Birthday'. It is also often to be found on greetings cards.



            [...]



            An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit" that it is still found in "investment returns". Therefore "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness.




            The first explanation implies we are wishing that their birthday will return many more times - in other words, "May you live long".






            share|improve this answer



















            • 4




              Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
              – ShreevatsaR
              Sep 3 '11 at 4:47















            up vote
            2
            down vote













            Wikipedia explains the phrase as follows:




            The term itself refers to the passing year. 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.
            Current usage is often as a more formal option than 'Happy Birthday'. It is also often to be found on greetings cards.



            [...]



            An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit" that it is still found in "investment returns". Therefore "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness.




            The first explanation implies we are wishing that their birthday will return many more times - in other words, "May you live long".






            share|improve this answer



















            • 4




              Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
              – ShreevatsaR
              Sep 3 '11 at 4:47













            up vote
            2
            down vote










            up vote
            2
            down vote









            Wikipedia explains the phrase as follows:




            The term itself refers to the passing year. 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.
            Current usage is often as a more formal option than 'Happy Birthday'. It is also often to be found on greetings cards.



            [...]



            An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit" that it is still found in "investment returns". Therefore "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness.




            The first explanation implies we are wishing that their birthday will return many more times - in other words, "May you live long".






            share|improve this answer














            Wikipedia explains the phrase as follows:




            The term itself refers to the passing year. 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.
            Current usage is often as a more formal option than 'Happy Birthday'. It is also often to be found on greetings cards.



            [...]



            An alternative explanation is that "returns" here is used in the sense of "yield" or "profit" that it is still found in "investment returns". Therefore "many happy returns of the day" would be a wishing a person a rewarding day, full of happiness.




            The first explanation implies we are wishing that their birthday will return many more times - in other words, "May you live long".







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 4 mins ago









            Nicolas Raoul

            83641634




            83641634










            answered Sep 3 '11 at 4:34









            John

            20928




            20928








            • 4




              Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
              – ShreevatsaR
              Sep 3 '11 at 4:47














            • 4




              Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
              – ShreevatsaR
              Sep 3 '11 at 4:47








            4




            4




            Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
            – ShreevatsaR
            Sep 3 '11 at 4:47




            Your "another meaning" is the same as the meaning in the first paragraph you quoted.
            – ShreevatsaR
            Sep 3 '11 at 4:47





            protected by RegDwigнt Sep 19 '12 at 12:58



            Thank you for your interest in this question.
            Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).



            Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?



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