tip your hat

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomold-fashioned

   To lift or touch the front of your hat briefly as a polite greeting or sign of respect.

   Grammar: Used as a complete action phrase; the possessive pronoun changes: he tipped his hat to her.

   Patterns

   • tip your hat to someone
   • tip your hat at someone

   The old man tipped his hat to the neighbors as he walked past.

   In those days a gentleman would tip his hat when a lady entered the room.

   She tipped her hat at us and went on her way.

2. 2phraseidiomfigurative

   To show respect or admiration for someone or something, usually publicly.

   Grammar: Almost always followed by to: tip your hat to someone or something.

   Patterns

   • tip your hat to someone
   • tip your hat to something

   We have to tip our hats to the rescue team for their bravery.

   I tip my hat to anyone who can learn three languages at once.

   Critics tipped their hats to the young director's first film.

Common combinations

tip your hat to someone

He tipped his hat to the teacher as she passed.

tip your hat at someone

She tipped her hat at the driver who let her cross.

I tip my hat to you

You finished the whole marathon — I tip my hat to you.

Synonyms and how they differ

doff your hat

Means the same physical action but is more literary and usually describes taking the hat right off.

pay tribute to

Fits the figurative sense and sounds more formal; it cannot describe the physical movement.

salute

A military or formal gesture of respect; it describes the action, not the hat.

Word family

hat tip noun

A written note thanking or crediting someone, especially online.

Commonly confused: tip your hat or tip someone off?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “tip your hat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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