Wishing people

Posted By Manjusha, Filed in English Speaking

Wishing people a good journey

Common ways of wishing people a good journey are:

Long trips, vacations etc.

Have a good trip.
Have a good journey. (GB)
Safe journey home. (GB)
Enjoy your holidays.(GB)
Enjoy your vacation.(US)
Have a good time in (destination city).

Short Outings

Enjoy! (American English)
Have a good time at (destination place such as a restaurant)
Have a good time in (destination city)

When your friends or family return home it is common to use one of the following phrases:

How was your vacation? (holiday in British English)
Did you enjoy your time in (destination)?
Did you have a good journey/trip/flight?
How was the journey/trip/flight?

If somebody is leaving for an evening out or some kind of pleasant event, you may wish them saying Have a good time! or Enjoy yourself! In American English, just Enjoy! is sometimes possible.

Good luck! is used to wish people before examinations or difficult events.

Holidays

Before somebody starts a holiday, we may say:

Have a good holiday.
Have a good time.
Have a good vacation. (US)

Sending good wishes

Common expressions are given below.

Give my best wishes to X
Give my regards to X
Give my greetings to X
Give my love to X
Remember me to X

Americans often say Say hello to X for me.

Birthdays

Happy birthday!
Best wishes/Good luck on your thirtieth (age - use an ordinal number) birthday!
Many happy returns!

Wedding / Anniversary

Congratulations!
Best wishes / good luck on your tenth (number - use an ordinal number) anniversary!
Here's to many more happy years together (used when making a toast)

Special Holidays

Merry Christmas!
Happy New Year/Easter/Ramadan/Diwali etc.
All the best for a happy New Year/Easter/Diwali/Ramadan etc.

When making special greetings to children on their birthday and at Christmas, it is also common to ask them what they received:

Merry Christmas! What did you get from Santa Claus?
Happy Birthday! What did your Daddy get for you?

Special Occasions

Congratulations on your promotion!
All the best for your ...
I'm so proud of you!

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