Top of the morning

Posted by David FG on March 24, 2008 at 08:18:

In Reply to: Top of the morning posted by Peter on March 23, 2008 at 14:59:

: : : The Irish use a phrase which is 'TOP OF THE MORNING'. I know it is like saying good morning, but why top of the morning?

: :
: : The Irish don't use 'the top of the morning' as often as popular myth would have it.

: : But why 'top'? It's 'top' as in 'best'. So 'best of the morning to you' might be an alternative rendering. It is a translation from the Irish.

: : DFG

: I am guessing it may have something to do with symbolically offering the coveted morning cream that has risen to the top of the milk jug, as an honour to the person addressed. I am also guessing that it was once common over a century ago amongst the Irish and had been later picked up and perpetuated by a few old American/British movies.

Sadly not. The words in Irish for 'top' as it would be in 'top of the morning' and in 'top of the milk' are different.

DFG