thank you

alternative thank u · alternative thank ya · alternative thank ye · alternative sank you

1. An expression of gratitude or politeness in response to something done or given.First known use c. 1400

   “And thank you for being so sweet,” replied her mom.

   5 more examples

   “Thank you!” said the girl after her mom gave her a gift.

   Jun[ius] […] The General has new Wine, new come over. / He muſt have new Acquaintance for it too, / For I will none, I thank ye. / Pet[ilus] None, I thank ye? / A short and touchy answer. None, I thank ye: / Ye do not scorn it, do ye?

   1711, attributed to John Fletcher, “Bonduca, a Tragedy”, in The Works of Mr. Francis Beaumont, and Mr. John Fletcher, volume IV, London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, at Shakespear's Head over-against Catherine-street in the Strand, →OCLC, act I, scene ii, page 2194

   I had some faint recollection of having a penny-piece in my waistcoat pocket, and, pleased with the service he had rendered to us, I gave it him as his guerdon. "Thank ye, sir—thank ye, sir—thank ye, sir," he cried, and immediately returned to his station near the footway.

   1826 April 22, “G.”, “The Dukedom (from ‘The News of Literature and Fashion, Science and Art.’)”, in The Spirit of the Times; or, Essence of the Periodicals; Concentrating Every Week, All that is Worthy (as Strictly Regarding the Time) of Being Preserved, from the Whole of Our Newspapers, Magazines, &c., volume I, number XXIX, London: Printed by Milne, Banfield, and Duckworth … for J. Scott, →OCLC, page 436, column 1

   "But, thank you, Lucy, oh, thank you," said Mrs. Dalloway, and thank you, thank you, she went on saying (sitting down on the sofa with her dress over her knees, her scissors, her silks), thank you, thank you, she went on saying in gratitude to her servants generally for helping her to be like this, to be what she wanted, gentle, generous-hearted.

   1925 May 14, Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, London: Leonard & Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press, →OCLC

   Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing / Thanks for all the joy they're bringing / Who can live without it, I ask in all honesty / What would life be? / Without a song or a dance what are we? / So I say thank you for the music / For giving it to me

   1977 December 12, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, “Thank You for the Music”, in ABBA: The Album, performed by ABBA

   Synonyms: cheers, much appreciated, gracias, gramercy, much obliged, ta, thank you very much, thanks

2. oftenUsed as a polite affirmative to accept an offer.

   Near-synonym: please

   2 more examples

   —May I help you? —Yes, thank you.

   —May I help you? —Thank you.

   Synonyms: please

3. A polite dismissal; usually used in professional contexts.

   ‘No, come in,’ he said. ‘Martin, right? Have a seat.’ […] ‘Thank you, no, I won’t.’ He moved inside a little more.

   2015, Amy Andrews, Limbo, Sydney, N.S.W.: Escape Publishing, →ISBN

plural thank yous

1. alternativeAlternative spelling of thank-you.