Meaning & use
tip the hat
Last updated
Meanings
phraseidiom
To lift or touch your hat as a polite greeting or sign of respect.
Grammar: Used with a possessive: 'tip your hat', 'tip my hat'.
Patterns
- tip your hat to someone
- tip your hat
He tipped his hat to the lady as she passed.
In the past, men would tip their hats to show respect.
phraseidiomfigurative
To express admiration or praise for someone, often figuratively.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'tip my hat to someone'.
Patterns
- tip your hat to someone
- tip my hat to someone
I tip my hat to the volunteers who worked all weekend.
We should tip our hats to her for such a brave decision.
Common combinations
- tip your hat to someone
- I tip my hat to you for solving that problem.
- tip your hat in greeting
- He tipped his hat in greeting.
- tip your hat to the past
- The film tips its hat to the silent era.
Synonyms and how they differ
- doff your hat
- More formal and old-fashioned; literally means to remove your hat.
- salute
- A military or formal gesture of respect, not necessarily with a hat.
Word family
- hat tip noun
- A mention or acknowledgment of someone's contribution.
Commonly confused: tip the hat or tip someone off?
tip the hat vs tip someone off
To give someone a secret warning, not a sign of respect.
Practice
What does 'tip the hat' mean?
Choose one answer.
Tipping the hat is a gesture of respect or praise, not throwing, buying, or hiding.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tip the hat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.