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Glite Dictionary
to raise a toast

to raise a toast

3 3.9
To make a short speech and drink to honor someone or something
  • phrasal verb
  • /reɪz ə toʊst/
translation icon : brindar
  • At the wedding reception, we all stood up to raise a toast to the happy couple.
  • Let's raise a toast

You can say let's raise a toast even before we start.

Examples

  • With midterms and scheduling out of the way, let's raise a toast to the fact that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

    Blog text (7)

  • But I just wanna raise a toast to Dylan And his lovely bride, Heather.

    Another Happy Day (2011)

  • Should we raise a toast?

    The Reenactment (2021)

  • You can say let's raise a toast even before we start.

    The Knowledge Project Podcast

  • Please, let's raise a toast.

    North of the 10 (2022)

  • Next time I have a glass of wine, I'll raise a toast to you.

    Blog text (32)

  • I'd like to raise a toast.

    Melancholia (2011)

  • Let's raise a toast to one of our weaker moments.

    Fiction book (1993)

  • Jim raised a toast to Alice Ann's amazing generosity of spirit, good taste, and the lovely way she looked that evening.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • As we head into the final round, I want to raise a toast to Zach Kornfeld.

Synonyms

to drink
vsto raise a toast
161 6.3

To raise a glass and say good wishes to someone

uses an actual short speech before the shared sip to honor someone
to toast
vsto raise a toast
70 3.8

To raise a glass and drink to honor someone

is the common phrase for the same ceremonial action
to raise a glass
vsto raise a toast
9 3.7

Hold up a drink with others to celebrate someone or something

includes a short speech as well as the group beverage gesture
to salute
vsto raise a toast
9 3.9

To raise a glass to offer good wishes or honor someone

is the general act that can be less formal and shorter
to skoal
vsto raise a toast
9.9

To raise a glass and drink to wish someone good health

is the broader social speech plus shared sip across contexts
to raise a libation
vsto raise a toast
9.9

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

is a social short speech and shared sip, not a ritual offering
to raise a snifter
vsto raise a toast
8.8

Lift a small brandy glass to make a toast

is the wider practice of giving a short speech and communal sip

Antonyms

to put the bad mouth on
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

How Celebratory

to make a speech
  • Formal
35 2.8
to raise a toast
3 3.9

Surface Forms

raise a toast infinitive
raised a toast past
raised a toast past participle
raising a toast present participle
raises a toast third person singular

Morphology

raise + a + toast

The meaning is directly derivable from 'raise' (to lift) combined with 'toast' (a ceremonial drink or act of drinking to honor someone), so a learner who knows both words can infer lifting a glass and honoring someone. This is a common cross-linguistic ritual and follows a straightforward compositional pattern, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

The phrase raise a toast comes from the old custom of lifting a drink while saying a few words to honor someone. People would raise a toast and clink glasses to show respect, so today it means 'to make a short speech and drink in honor of someone or something'.