many happy returns

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English

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Noun

many happy returns

  1. (idiomatic) A greeting, usually for birthdays, in reference to the passing year; Happy birthday!
    The earliest attributable use was by Lady Newdigate in a letter written in 1789 (and published in Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels in 1898)[1]:
    Many happy returns of ye day to us my Dr Love.

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