Hat tip

Forms of the gesture

Traditionally, two men walking past each other or meeting in a room lifted their headwear rather than speaking aloud. The physical movement varied according to status and hierarchy. A person of lower rank was expected to make a more noticeable gesture, such as taking off their hat completely, while a higher-ranking peer might simply touch the brim. Anthropologists describe the act as a symbolic lowering of body height to show deference. Over time, the military hand salute emerged as a stylized variation of this gesture, and modern etiquette often replaces the motion with an upward or downward head nod.

Social meaning and encounters

Sociological observers noted that tipping headwear helped manage delicate interpersonal encounters. Sociologist Erving Goffman pointed out that raising a hat allowed a man and a woman to conclude an interaction smoothly and return to mutual inattention in public spaces. Goffman also observed that tipping a hat served as an acknowledgement for a stranger, whereas an acquaintance was customarily greeted with a bow. During the Nazi occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, tipping headwear toward Jewish neighbours became a quiet form of public protest, leading the authorities to outlaw the practice along with other polite gestures.

Metaphor and modern usage

Beyond physical headwear, the phrase entered media and internet culture as a sign of appreciation. Cartoonist Jimmy Hatlo popularized the concept from 1929 onward by including a printed acknowledgement thanking readers who sent funny ideas for his strip. In the digital age, bloggers and journalists adopted the expression, frequently shortened to initials like HT or h/t. Online etiquette encourages using the phrase to credit someone who originally pointed out a news story, web link, or interesting concept. Modern digital news organizations regularly give these acknowledgements to readers and online users who contribute story leads.

How Hat tip is kept

When encountering another person on the street or in a gathering, an individual touches or raises their hat to acknowledge them. Subordinates historically removed their hat entirely to honour a superior, who might simply touch the brim in return. When meeting a stranger, the hat was lifted to greet them, or used by a man to conclude a conversation with a woman. In digital spaces, people perform the gesture metaphorically by writing hat tip or abbreviations like h/t next to a credited name.

When and where

The gesture occurs whenever people cross paths, meet at a gathering, or say goodbye. It is also used when acknowledging a helpful tip, contribution, or creative suggestion online or in print.

Hat tipping was common across Western societies during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It was also noted as a form of social courtesy and political protest in Bohemia and Moravia, and is used globally on digital platforms.

What Hat tip means

The gesture conveys courtesy, gratitude, and acknowledgement. Desmond Morris explained the movement as a modified posture of submission, where taking off the hat symbolically lowers a person's height. In social settings, it establishes respect, clarifies social rank, and marks the polite opening or closing of an encounter.

Questions people ask about Hat tip

See also

VisitationA Christian feast commemorating Mary's journey to visit her cousin ElizabethSaint Nicholas DayThe feast day of Saint Nicholas, kept in Advent with gifts, shoes and church servicesCologne CarnivalA street festival in Cologne with parades, masquerades and a ruling trioAs-salamu alaykumA traditional Arabic greeting of peace exchanged in daily life and prayer

Good reading and sources

• Hat tip on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.