| Author |
Message |
J Cheung
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 8:41 pm
Post subject: Happy Returns |
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I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I want.
J Cheung |
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William R Ward
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:05 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> writes:
| Quote: | I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I want.
|
I've always interpreted it as "May you have many more happy
birthdays." As in, may your birthday return each year? A wish for
long life as well as happiness.
--
William R Ward bill@wards.net http://bill.wards.net
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Help save the San Jose Earthquakes - http://www.soccersiliconvalley.com/ |
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Tony Cooper
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 9:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:41:13 +0800, "J Cheung"
<stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
| Quote: | I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I want.
They are wishing that you are happy on this day, and that the same |
happiness will return on all future birthdays. |
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bayskater
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:34 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote in message
news:41da9c51$1@news.starhub.net.sg...
| Quote: | I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add
'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I
want.
J Cheung
|
It is a greeting used mostly by employees of H&R Block.
Fred  |
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J Cheung
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 2:37 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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"bayskater" <EFHUNTER@DELETETHISatt.net> wrote in message
news:8AzCd.66516$uM5.8697@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
| Quote: |
"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote in message
news:41da9c51$1@news.starhub.net.sg...
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add
'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean
in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I
want.
J Cheung
It is a greeting used mostly by employees of H&R Block.
Fred
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Thanks. But what do you mean by "employees of H&R Block" ? |
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Donna Richoux
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 4:13 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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J Cheung <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
| Quote: | "bayskater" <EFHUNTER@DELETETHISatt.net> wrote in message
news:8AzCd.66516$uM5.8697@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote in message
news:41da9c51$1@news.starhub.net.sg...
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add
'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean
in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I
want.
J Cheung
It is a greeting used mostly by employees of H&R Block.
Fred :-)
Thanks. But what do you mean by "employees of H&R Block" ?
|
Fred made a joke for the American audience. Income tax forms are called
"tax returns." H&R Block is a company that prepares income tax returns
for people. It doesn't really have any connection to the birthday
greeting.
--
Best -- Donna Richoux
An American living in the Netherlands |
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J Cheung
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:02 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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"Donna Richoux" <trio@euronet.nl> wrote
| Quote: | J Cheung <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
"bayskater" <EFHUNTER@DELETETHISatt.net> wrote
"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often
add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns'
mean
in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what
I
want.
J Cheung
It is a greeting used mostly by employees of H&R Block.
Fred :-)
Thanks. But what do you mean by "employees of H&R Block" ?
Fred made a joke for the American audience. Income tax forms are called
"tax returns." H&R Block is a company that prepares income tax returns
for people. It doesn't really have any connection to the birthday
greeting.
Best -- Donna Richoux An American living in the Netherlands
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Many thanks Donna for the clarification. Perhaps in return I'll put in some
Asian jokes.
J Cheung |
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Charles Riggs
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:45:59 GMT, Tony Cooper
<tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
| Quote: | On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:41:13 +0800, "J Cheung"
stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns' mean in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what I want.
They are wishing that you are happy on this day, and that the same
happiness will return on all future birthdays.
|
Dead Wrong. They are hoping you receive some tangible awards: loot,
for example. It is an asshole expression I'd never use.
--
Charles Riggs
They are no accented letters in my email address |
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Charles Riggs
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 11:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 19:02:33 +0800, "J Cheung"
<stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
| Quote: |
"Donna Richoux" <trio@euronet.nl> wrote
J Cheung <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
"bayskater" <EFHUNTER@DELETETHISatt.net> wrote
"J Cheung" <stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often
add 'Many
Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word 'returns'
mean
in
this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary but can't get what
I
want.
J Cheung
It is a greeting used mostly by employees of H&R Block.
Fred :-)
Thanks. But what do you mean by "employees of H&R Block" ?
Fred made a joke for the American audience. Income tax forms are called
"tax returns." H&R Block is a company that prepares income tax returns
for people. It doesn't really have any connection to the birthday
greeting.
Best -- Donna Richoux An American living in the Netherlands
Many thanks Donna for the clarification. Perhaps in return I'll put in some
Asian jokes.
J Cheung
|
I can't wait.
--
Charles Riggs
They are no accented letters in my email address |
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Hagrinas Mivali
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 4:09 am
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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Charles Riggs wrote:
| Quote: | On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:45:59 GMT, Tony Cooper
tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:41:13 +0800, "J Cheung"
stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often
add 'Many Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word
'returns' mean in this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary
but can't get what I want.
They are wishing that you are happy on this day, and that the same
happiness will return on all future birthdays.
Dead Wrong. They are hoping you receive some tangible awards: loot,
for example. It is an asshole expression I'd never use.
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Which asshole expression would you use? |
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Charles Riggs
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2005 6:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Happy Returns |
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On Fri, 7 Jan 2005 13:09:06 -0800, "Hagrinas Mivali"
<remove.to.reply@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
| Quote: |
Charles Riggs wrote:
On Tue, 04 Jan 2005 14:45:59 GMT, Tony Cooper
tony_cooper213@earthlink.net> wrote:
On Tue, 4 Jan 2005 21:41:13 +0800, "J Cheung"
stcheung@starhub.net.sg> wrote:
I understand when people wishes friends happy birthday, they often
add 'Many Happy Returns of the Day". What exactly does this word
'returns' mean in this context ? I tried to look up my dictionary
but can't get what I want.
They are wishing that you are happy on this day, and that the same
happiness will return on all future birthdays.
Dead Wrong. They are hoping you receive some tangible awards: loot,
for example. It is an asshole expression I'd never use.
Which asshole expression would you use?
|
I've probably used "Have a nice day!" once or twice.
--
Charles Riggs
They are no accented letters in my email address |
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