Phrase guide

hats off

intj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • hăts′ ôf′
  • hăts′ ŏf′
  • Received-Pronunciation: /hæts‿ˈɒf/
  • General-American: /hæts‿ˈɔf/
  • General-American, cot-caught-merger: /-ˈɑf/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

intj

Meaning 1

Used as an instruction for people to remove their hats out of respect, generally towards someone of importance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Used to express approval or praise: congratulations, kudos, well done!

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • Hats off to the Jamaican bobsled team for their able representation of their country in the Olympics against serious obstacles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bravissimo, bravo, bully, cock on, congrats, congratulations, encore, fair fucks, full marks, get you, good for someone, good for you, good going, good job, good on you, good show, good work, hats off, hon, hoorah, hooray, hurrah, hurray, huzza, huzzah, jolly good show, keep it up, kudos, mazal tov, mazel tov, nice one, proper job, right on, shabash, there you go, way to go, well done, well said

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Ellipsis of take one’s hat off to.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: nosta hattua — used as an instruction for people to remove their hats out of respect
  • Finnish: nostakaa hattua — used as an instruction for people to remove their hats out of respect
  • Polish: czapki z głów — used as an instruction for people to remove their hats out of respect
  • Czech: klobouk dolů — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Dutch: petje af — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Finnish: nostan hattua — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • French: chapeau — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • French: chapeau bas — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • German: Chapeau — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • German: Hut ab — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Hungarian: le a kalappal — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Japanese: 脱帽 (datsubō) — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Polish: chapeau bas — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Polish: czapki z głów — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Slovak: klobúk dolu — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Slovene: kápo dòl — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Spanish: quitar el sombrero — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Spanish: sacar el sombrero — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done
  • Swedish: hatten av (för) — used to express approval or praise — see also congratulations, well done