many happy returns
Greeting for birthdays
Many happy returns is a birthday greeting, short for "many happy returns of the day"—wishing someone repeated celebrations of this occasion in years to come.
The phrase sounds formal or old-fashioned to modern ears: Many happy returns on your special day.
Occasionally used for other annual occasions like anniversaries.
- birthday wishesAnnual celebration greetings
- make a wishHope for something silently
- felicitationsExpressions of good wishes
- toastHeated bread; glass-raising honor
- cheersCasual toast or farewell
health · congratulations · well-wishes · best wishes · warm regards · wassail · blessings · good health · celebration · special occasion · joyous occasion · gratitude · anniversary celebrations · greeting · tip of the hat · party hats · longevity · gift-giving
- toastscheers, wedding toast, birthday toast, champagne toast, graduation toast
- well-wishesgood luck, best wishes, take care, wishing you well, warm regards
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
- seasonal greetingsmerry Christmas, season's greetings, best wishes, peace on earth, holiday cheer
many happy returnsmy condolences
Expression of shared sorrow
rest in peace · sorry for your loss · in loving memory · gone too soon · RIP
many happy returnsfarewell
Leave-taking expression
goodbye · adieu · rest in peace · so long · until we meet again
many, happy, returns, return, happily, happiness, unhappy, unhappiness, happier