to raise a snifter - Glite Dictionary

Examples

Let's raise a snifter to our friendship!
He likes to raise a snifter of brandy while reminiscing about old friends.
Before leaving, she raised a snifter and wished everyone a happy year ahead.
He raised a snifter during the toast.
During the celebration, everyone raised a snifter to toast the newlyweds.
At the end of the party, he raised a snifter to commemorate their successful year.
As they gathered around the table, they raised a snifter in honor of their achievements.

Synonyms

to drink

vsto raise a snifter

161 6.3

To raise a glass and say good wishes to someone

is more about the physical act with a specific brandy glass

to toast

vsto raise a snifter

70 3.8

To raise a glass and drink to honor someone

is narrower, centring on lifting a rounded brandy glass as salute

to raise a glass

vsto raise a snifter

9 3.7

Hold up a drink with others to celebrate someone or something

is specific to lifting a rounded brandy glass for salute or toast

to salute

vsto raise a snifter

9 3.9

To raise a glass to offer good wishes or honor someone

is especially about lifting a rounded brandy glass in celebration

to raise a toast

vsto raise a snifter

3 3.9

To make a short speech and drink to honor someone or something

focuses on lifting a rounded brandy glass rather than giving a speech

to skoal

vsto raise a snifter

9.9

To raise a glass and drink to wish someone good health

emphasizes the specific gesture of lifting a rounded brandy glass

to raise a libation

vsto raise a snifter

9.9

Offer a drink in a ceremony to honor someone or a god

is secular and casual, about lifting a brandy glass to salute

Antonyms

to lower

802 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

to set down

70 1.7

To put something or someone down gently on a surface

How Celebratory

to make a speech

Formal

35 2.8

to raise a toast

3 3.9

to raise a glass

9 3.7

to raise a snifter

8.8

Surface Forms

raise a snifter infinitive

raised a snifter past

raised a snifter past participle

raising a snifter present participle

raises a snifter third person singular

Morphology

raise + a + snifter

The meaning 'to lift a (brandy) glass in a salute or toast' is directly and compositionally derived from 'raise' (lift) + 'a' (article) + 'snifter' (a brandy glass). This follows the common 'raise a glass' construction found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Raise a snifter comes from lifting a round, wide glass called a snifter when people make a small toast; imagine friends raising their brandy glasses and clinking them to celebrate. So, it now means 'to lift a glass in a salute or toast'.