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I got an email from an instructor today. Towards the end of email she says:

"Here is to finishing off the semester in a positive way."

What does that mean?

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3 Answers

up vote 13 down vote accepted

"Here's to ..." is a phrase used when making a toast. It means "Here is a toast to ...", at which point it is customary to raise your glass. The phrase has a life of its own, used by a speaker or writer expresses a situation that calls for a toast-like salute to something.

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Ooh, downvote with no comment. Here is to the plus-voters out there! All you others: do not hate, emulate. :) – Kaz Apr 25 '12 at 21:15
There you go - have my upvote to counterbalance the dark force. Not that the other answers are wrong - but they give no explanation as to how the expression arose in the first place, so they're incomplete. – FumbleFingers Apr 26 '12 at 0:33
It may also be related to the the expression hear, hear. As is discussed in this wikipedia article: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_here – Brad Apr 28 '12 at 10:28
up vote 6 down vote

It is a way of expressing a wish for success. In other words: "I hope you will finish off the semester in a positive way".

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+1, Your answer is concise and perfect. – Carlo_R. Apr 25 '12 at 20:19
up vote 1 down vote

"Here is to..." or "Here's to..." is a friendly way of saying "I am looking forward to..."

Another example: A salesman may say at the end of the year: "Here's to another great year of sales"

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