Hear, hear!
Meaning
It is an exclamation used to show strong agreement, approval, or support for what someone has just said, often in a public or formal setting.
Origin
The phrase "Hear, hear!" is a truncated echo of a much older parliamentary call: "Hear him! Hear him!" Born in the boisterous halls of the British Parliament during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, this interjection was a forceful way for Members of Parliament to express their strong agreement with a speaker, to draw attention to their words, or to rally support for an argument. It was a command to listen, evolving over time into a powerful vocal nod of approval. The repetitive, emphatic shortening to "Hear, hear!" cemented its place in public discourse, shedding its instructional past to become a punchy, universally understood cheer of endorsement.
Examples
- When the speaker finished her passionate appeal for environmental protection, many in the audience shouted, "Hear, hear!"
- The proposal for extended library hours was met with enthusiastic applause and cries of "Hear, hear!" from the students.