# The way you say "Cheers"; and, for that matter, ways you don't say cheers **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 19, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367 "2006-04-19T21:35:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/1 "2006-04-19T21:35:21Z")
I’m talking about the clicking of glasses here, not the British thank you. Personally, although I’m a goy, I’ve always been a fan of “L’chaim!” It sounds so hearty, you know? Beyond that, there was this Gahan Wilson comic I once read where there was a loner at a bar with a little shot glass who said to himself: “To the lunatic fringe!” That one comes out around 1:30 in the morning though. So, yeah. I just want a list to mentally draw from. The more languages, the better. Cin cin, birdmonster ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/2 "2006-04-19T21:57:27Z")
We were told at the Alliance Française that the French say \*à votre santé \* (or just \*santé \* for short), meaning “to your health”. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/3 "2006-04-19T22:02:16Z")
Usually for a quicky it’s just “slainte”, as there was this English guy I used to know who said “Cheers” after just about everything that came out of his mouth, and it made me want to punch him in the face. That being said, for a toast of a kind I usually offer up “Here’s to us and those like us…damned few left.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/4 "2006-04-19T22:54:16Z")
“Confusion to the French!” ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/5 "2006-04-19T23:04:30Z")
“Bottoms Up” always sounds nicley risque. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/6 "2006-04-19T23:08:28Z")
Only ever ‘cheers’, or ‘slainche’ when with the Irish relatives. The only times I can recall anything else spontaneous are “to so-and-so”, always in a wake or other post-funeral pub visit. And I hate clinking of glasses. Just raise them, and the job is done. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Wombats)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/7 "2006-04-19T23:51:47Z")
Among my fraternity men, “To Honor” Else, “cheers” works pretty well… Although I definately prefer the former 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Wombats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Wombats)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/8 "2006-04-19T23:53:03Z")
I can definitely read… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/9 "2006-04-20T01:08:23Z")
“Gentlemen, to Evil!” Actually, usually it’s just ‘cheers’, or ‘Sláinte mhath!’ if I’m with my dad. > [@GorillaMan](#): > > And I hate clinking of glasses. Just raise them, and the job is done. Me too. It’s especially irksome if there are lots of people, and they all seem intent on not missing anybody, so it becomes an awkward sidestepping sea of glasses and hands. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/10 "2006-04-20T06:57:13Z")
Inspired by the movie, [The Sum of Us](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111309/) a couple of friends and I used to say “Up your bum” as a toast. This mutated into the shorter and sharper “Up yours.” When it is not inappropriate to do so, we still use this salutation. Of course we have to be very careful since in many, many situations it would be offensive. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/11 "2006-04-20T08:14:22Z")
Sláinte, L’Chaim or Cheers usually. Iechyd da if I’m feeling particularly dizzy. Anyway, I think [this](http://www.awa.dk/glosary/slainte.htm) site will help. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/12 "2006-04-20T09:19:49Z")
I make it a habit of teaching new drinking buddies “L’chaim!” I’m not a goy, BTW, and I’ve done it in Israel. “Salud!” is a classic, of course. But I don’t use it cause it feels wrong if nobody’s been sneezing. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/13 "2006-04-20T12:24:09Z")
Years ago in London I befriended a bunch of folks from Ireland, and their toast- it may have been an in joke to that group, but they told me it was an Irish thing- was a two-parter: First person: “Cheers, big ears!” Everyone else: “F–k you, noddy!” I don’t know what it means. Around my house, it’s “slainche”, “skol”, “cheers”, and we taught my kids “here’s mud in your eye”. ---
**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/14 "2006-04-20T12:27:14Z")
“Chin chin” is always a good one. Especially in Japan becuase “chin” is slang for penis in Japanese ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/15 "2006-04-20T12:34:56Z")
> [@McNew](#): > > Years ago in London I befriended a bunch of folks from Ireland, and their toast- it may have been an in joke to that group, but they told me it was an Irish thing- was a two-parter: > > First person: “Cheers, big ears!” > Everyone else: “F–k you, noddy!” > > I don’t know what it means. > > Around my house, it’s “slainche”, “skol”, “cheers”, and we taught my kids “here’s mud in your eye”. Ohhh I forgot that one! Noddy and Big Ears were/are a childrens favourite book, coupled with the whole rhyming opportunity how could it be resisted? I’m a fan of “Cheers big ears” I just forgot the rest! (is there a dumbarse smilie?) ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/16 "2006-04-20T13:09:17Z")
I haven’t heard “cheers, big ears!” in absolute _ages_. Used to all over the show from around the late 1970s. Never thought it was connected with the Blyton character, though – just a rhyming thing with “cheers”. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/17 "2006-04-20T13:15:18Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally posted by \*\* McNew\*\* > > \*Years ago in London I befriended a bunch of folks from Ireland, and their toast- it may have been an in joke to that group, but they told me it was an Irish thing- was a two-parter: > > > > First person: “Cheers, big ears!” > > Everyone else: “F–k you, noddy!” > > > > I don’t know what it means. > > > > Around my house, it’s “slainche”, “skol”, “cheers”, and we taught my kids “here’s mud in your eye”.\* > > Ohhh I forgot that one! Noddy and Big Ears were/are a childrens favourite book, coupled with the whole rhyming opportunity how could it be resisted? I’m a fan of “Cheers big ears” I just forgot the rest! (is there a dumbarse smilie?) So it wasn’t just their private in-joke? I’m really happy to hear that. I’ve wanted to use that toast but I’ve never heard it before in the states, and figured nobody would know how to follow up if I said the first part. If I ever find myself around a group of Irish folks again, I’ll toss it out there. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/18 "2006-04-20T13:19:30Z")
Almost forgot- my friend from France taught me that the French always tap the top of their glass/bottle for health, and the bottom as kind a well-wishing for the person’s sex life. So now my wife and I always do the double-tap. Again, for all I know he it was a joke and it means nothing. But it continues to work for me and my wife. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/19 "2006-04-20T14:03:03Z")
I’m a fan of the German “Prost!” ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367/20 "2006-04-20T14:30:10Z")
An Irish toast/blessing: _“May god bless the ones that love us. May he turn the hearts of those that don’t. And if he can’t turn their hearts, May he turn their ankles, So we may know them by their limping.”_😃 “Crank up the Enola Gay!” 😛 “Fuck you! I’m drunk.” 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-way-you-say-cheers-and-for-that-matter-ways-you-dont-say-cheers/353367.md?page=2)