“Many happy returns” is a phrase that was common in a bygone age. It has largely – but not entirely – fallen out of usage. What exactly does it mean? When should one use it?
It’s still used frequently in India mostly on birthdays. It means that one hopes you live long (i.e. many returns of your birthday).
It’s a birthday greeting.
I’ve often heard it as “Many happy returns of the day,” which corroborates **alanak’**s post.
I’ve always thought it meant “Many happy returns from your good deeds”
Many happy returns
Meaning
Have many more happy days, especially birthdays.
Origin
Since the 18th century this has been used as a salutation to offer the hope that a happy day being marked would recur many more times. It is now primarily used on birthdays; prior to the mid 19th century it was used more generally, at any celebratory or festive event.
The first record O can find of it in print is in a letter written by Lady Newdigate in 1789 (published in Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels in 1898):
“Many happy returns of ye day to us my Dr Love.”
In a similar vein is adding the tag “And many more…” after singing Happy Birthday. AFAI can see there’s no sign that that’s part of a bygone anything, it’s still quite current.