I got an email from an instructor today. Towards the end of email she says:
"Here is to finishing off the semester in a positive way."
What does that mean?
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3 Answers
"Here's to ..." is a phrase used when making a toast. It means "Here is a toast to ...", at which point it is customary to raise your glass. The phrase has a life of its own, used by a speaker or writer expresses a situation that calls for a toast-like salute to something.
The "Here is" part can be omitted also. For instance, the wording of a toast may simply be something like, "To your health!"
The preposition or particle "to ~" in this situation means something like: "for the sake of the (continued) good status of ~" or "in recognition/appreciation/celebration/congratulation of ~" or "in hope of ~"
"Here is to you, Bob!" -> "Here is a toast in appreciation of you, Bob!"
"To your health!" -> "Let this symbolic drink be made for the sake of the continued good status of your health!"
"Here is to finishing off the semester in a positive way."
-> "Here is a wish in hope of finishing off the rest of the semester in a positive way."
-> "Here is a cheer in celebration of having finished the semester in a positive way."
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Ooh, downvote with no comment. Here is to the plus-voters out there! All you others: do not hate, emulate. :)Kaz– Kaz2012-04-25 21:15:43 +00:00Commented Apr 25, 2012 at 21:15
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There you go - have my upvote to counterbalance the dark force. Not that the other answers are wrong - but they give no explanation as to how the expression arose in the first place, so they're incomplete.FumbleFingers– FumbleFingers2012-04-26 00:33:01 +00:00Commented Apr 26, 2012 at 0:33
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It may also be related to the the expression hear, hear. As is discussed in this wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_hereBrad– Brad2012-04-28 10:28:49 +00:00Commented Apr 28, 2012 at 10:28
It is a way of expressing a wish for success. In other words: "I hope you will finish off the semester in a positive way".
"Here is to..." or "Here's to..." is a friendly way of saying "I am looking forward to..."
Another example: A salesman may say at the end of the year: "Here's to another great year of sales"
