Tip one’s hat and tip one’s cap are two versions of an idiom that has been in use for hundreds of years. We will examine the meaning of the common idioms tip one’s hat or tip one’s cap, where they came from, and some examples of their idiomatic usage in sentences.
To tip one’s hat and tip one’s cap means to give praise or show respect for something or someone. The idioms tip one’s hat and tip one’s cap came from the practice of tipping the brim of one’s hat down as a show of respect. In time, the practice became a metaphor for showing respect and came into use in the latter 19th century. Related phrases are tips one’s hat, tipped one’s hat, tipping one’s hat, tips one’s cap, tipped one’s cap, tipping one’s cap.
Examples
I tip my hat to the Idaho lawmakers who are doing everything they can to keep social justice ideology/critical race theory out of our education system. (Post Register)
I tip my hat to those working hard to build standards and ratings who are growing alliances and organizations dedicated to working toward much-needed common standards for ESG, such as the Global Sustainability Standards Board, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, and firms such as KPMG, McKinsey, and Deloitte. (Barron’s)
“Coffeyville has a great team and I tip my cap to them.” (Ponca City News)
“I really tip my cap to both of you for developing a budget with such a minimal tax increase in some uncertain times,” Warner told the two during the meeting. (Great Neck News)
Check out some others we covered: