Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to raise a glass

to raise a glass

9 3.7
Hold up a drink with others to celebrate someone or something
  • idiom
translation icon : brindar
  • We're here to celebrate and to raise a glass to one of our own.
  • raise a glass and toast
  • let's raise a glass
  • raise a glass in honor

Let's do it and let us raise a glass in memory.

Examples

  • Let's raise a glass to the class of 1997.

    37 Teen (2019)

  • Let's raise a glass to the fantastic work our team has accomplished this year!

  • Everybody raise a glass to the master of the house!

    Les Misérables (2012)

  • I raise a glass in your honor.

    Blog text (4)

  • But let's raise a glass to the whole man.

    Your Sister's Sister (2011)

  • Let's raise a glass to our new friend.

    Gotti (2018)

  • Have a good one, those who celebrate it, and raise a glass to absent friends.

    Blog text (4)

  • Everybody, let's raise a glass to Patty and Molly for throwing, by far, the coolest party I've ever personally been invited to.

    She's Out of My League (2010)

  • I'm going to raise a glass of Laphroaig in toast and munch on some cheese and crackers.

    Blog text (4)

  • My adult children now are sitting around the table, and they've been asked to raise a glass and represent to me and everyone who's assembled what they're proudest of.

Synonyms

to drink
vsto raise a glass
161 6.3

To raise a glass and say good wishes to someone

focuses more on the shared lifting of beverages than on the spoken wish
to toast
vsto raise a glass
70 3.8

To raise a glass and drink to honor someone

is more about the shared lifting of beverages than the speech
to salute
vsto raise a glass
9 3.9

To raise a glass to offer good wishes or honor someone

is the common communal lifting of beverages for celebration rather than a ceremonial ritual
to raise a toast
vsto raise a glass
3 3.9

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

is the simple group act of lifting beverages to celebrate
to raise a snifter
vsto raise a glass
8.8

Lift a small brandy glass to make a toast

is broader and not limited to one vessel type or style
to skoal
vsto raise a glass
9.9

To raise a glass and drink to wish someone good health

is the general group lifting of beverages without specific cultural marking
to raise a libation
vsto raise a glass
9.9

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

is secular and social, not a ritual offering to a deity or spirit

How Celebratory

to make a speech
  • Formal
35 2.8
to raise a glass
9 3.7
to clap
124 1.0
to smile
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

raise + a + glass

The meaning is directly built from the constituents: 'raise' (lift) + 'a' + 'glass' (drinking vessel) yields the image of lifting a drink, which in cultural contexts signals a toast or celebration. This gesture-to-meaning mapping is common cross-linguistically (e.g. 'lever son verre', 'alzar la copa'), so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily infer the celebratory/toasting sense.

Etymology

Raise a glass comes from the simple act of lifting a drinking cup: people physically raise their glass together to honour someone and show they are joined in a wish. That's why raise a glass means 'to celebrate' or 'toast' someone.