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While most American men no longer wear hats (except in cold weather or as a fashion statement), there was a time when the hat was part of the business uniform, or identified you as a member of upper-class society. In England, men wore top hats (also called stovepipe hats) when dressed formally, as did Americans, in the 1800s and early 1900s. The style of the hat gradually changed (stetson hats became very popular in the American West); but the custom of briefly taking off the hat was historically a sign of respect, whether for one's boss or for someone in society who was superior in status. In centuries past, taking off the hat might be accompanied by a slight bow of the head. Taking off the hat was also considered to be good manners for a man to do whenever a woman entered the room. (In western movies, the cowboy would always tip his hat to a lady.)
Expressions like "hat's off to you" or "I tip my hat to you" thus became ways of showing admiration. And even though most men no longer wear a top hat, the expression has lived on. A version of it also survives in Baseball: players from one team may say they tip their cap to an opposing player: for example, Team X loses to team Y in a very close but well-played game. The pitcher from Team X tells reporters, "I'm sorry we lost but I tip my cap to their pitcher. He pitched better than me today." So, to sum up, the expression goes back to the time when the hat was an essential part of a man's wardrobe, and taking it off or touching the brim were acts that showed admiration or respect.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agorespect others
Removing one's hat has been a sign of respect since medieval times. It began by removing the hat in church to show respect for God.
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What does the idiom 'eat your hat' mean?
Eat your hat: a statement made when you are positive that something will happen, as in "I'll eat my hat if our team loses this game."
Can you give a sample sentence using the idiom drop of a hat?
John loved to dance and would do so at the drop of a hat.
Hat is a noun or adjective?
Yea hats are things. So it's a noun. You were a hat, you buy a hat, you take a hat off your head.
What does the phrase your hat keep it mean?
Literally, this is going to be a fast, rough ride and your hat will blow off if you don't hang on to it. Figuratively, we're going to do something fast with few precautions.
What does 'at the drop of a hat' mean?
Generall, "At the drop of a hat" means that someone/something can react or happen as quickly as someone dropping their hat. ie: Jessica can start crying at the drop of a hat. This term originated in sports - before they invented starting guns, the race or event would start when the official held their hat in an outstretched arm and suddenly lowered the arm straight down. That was called "dropping" the hat.
What is an example sentence for the idiom take off your hat to someone?
You had to take your hat off to him based on his success.
What is the origin for take off your hat to someone?
Removing one's hat has been a sign of respect since medieval times. It began by removing the hat in church to show respect for God.
What does take your hat to someone mean?
Nothing - If you "take off your hat to someone" you are acknowledging a talent, accomplishment or effort of that person.
What does the idiom pull your name from a hat mean?
The idiom "pull your name from a hat" means to choose or select something randomly or without any particular reason or method. It suggests a random or arbitrary decision-making process.
What is the meaning of the idiom 'Hold on to your hat'?
It was a phrase. "Hold on to your hat, there is going to be a bumpy road ahead"!
At the Drop of a Hat origin?
at the drop of a hat
What does the idiom 'high hat' mean?
Condescending or supercilious toward
What does this idiom mean she has a baby in her bonnet?
Nothing. I'm afraid you've got the idiom incorrectly. Perhaps you actually heard "a bee in her bonnet," which means that someone has an idea that won't go away, as if there were a bee in their hat that they could not ignore.
What does the idiom 'eat your hat' mean?
Eat your hat: a statement made when you are positive that something will happen, as in "I'll eat my hat if our team loses this game."
Are there any idioms for the word sensitive?
One idiom related to sensitivity is "walk on eggshells," meaning to tread carefully or cautiously in order to avoid causing offense or upsetting someone who is easily hurt or offended.
Can you give a sample sentence using the idiom drop of a hat?
John loved to dance and would do so at the drop of a hat.
What is the origin of to take your hat off?
be polite and dont be rude Removing one's hat has been a sign of respect since medieval times. It began by removing the hat in church to show respect for God.
