I wish you well to wear it

Alternative Spellings

Wear it well, Wish you well to wear it, Wear it in good health

Definitions

• A saying uttered on seeing a friend or relative wearing a new garment or accessory. It is value-neutral, not implying that the garment is nice, just that it is new.

Example Sentences

• "Is that a new jacket? I wish you well to wear it."
• "On first seeing a new engagement ring, you would say, 'I wish you well to wear it' to pass on good luck to the newly engaged couple."

Languages of Origin

Yiddish, English

Etymology

טראָג געזונטערהײט 'wear healthily'

Who Uses This

Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

Regions

North America, Great Britain

Dictionaries

None

Notes

"I wish you well to wear it" is used widely amongst older British Jews (especially in London). "Wear it in good health" is more common among older American Jews.