Home US English propose a toast

Definition of propose a toast in English:

propose a toast

phrase

(also propose someone's health)

  • Ask a group of people at a social occasion to drink to the health and happiness of a specified person.

    ‘I hereby propose a toast to the bride and groom’
    • ‘She proposed a toast to our health (the usual) and sat back down amid clapping.’
    • ‘I take three glasses from the cupboard, remove a bottle from the case, pop the cork, fill the glasses, and propose a toast to their health.’
    • ‘When I mentioned a party where I'd proposed a toast, he said with a trace of regret, ‘I'm told you speak very well.’’
    • ‘Before we left, I proposed a toast (a little odd to do with iced tea, but it seemed appropriate).’
    • ‘While I was speaking, the waiter filled the wine glasses and when I had concluded my speech, the president of the club stood up and proposed a toast to the Queen.’
    • ‘I said a few words and proposed a toast to the happy couple.’
    • ‘At a recent charity lunch for women, someone proposed a toast to ‘our sisters in America’.’
    • ‘The night before last, as I laid in bed, it occurred to me that I should propose a toast to my father and I began to think of all the things I wanted to say.’
    • ‘A 22-piece big band will be performing on the night and guests will propose a toast to all World War Two veterans at midnight.’
    • ‘He got to his feet, waved rather wildly for calm, and raised his glass to propose a toast which raised eyebrows higher than glasses.’