Expression: Taking my hat off

[Joe]

Test No. express/advan-5 "Call it a day", question 1

I take my hat off to all those people who worked hard to get the contract.

(a) respect
(b) encourage
(c) congratulate
(d) welcome

Test No. express/advan-5 "Call it a day", answer 1

I congratulate all those people who worked hard to get the contract.

Correct answer: (c) congratulate

Your answer was: incorrect
I respect all those people who worked hard to get the contract.

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Hi, I was wondering if you could help me to better understand the phrase 'taking my hat off', I used to think that it meant giving someone respect, ie. when a man takes of his hat in the church or when he takes off his hat infront of a lady..

thank you
Joe

[Alan]

Hi,

You're quite right because you raise/take off your hat to someone in this sense to show admiration for the hard work they have done. You see someone do a very brave thing and you take your hat off to them to indicate that you are very impressed with what they have done.

Alan
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[Haihao]

Hi,

I chose the same as Joe. According to Alan's comment, it seems that both (a) and (c) are correct. Can I see it this way? But I'd like to know which is better or which one is the best answer in this situation.

haihao

[Canadian45]

You can respect and congratulate someone at the same time but congratulate is the correct answer here. You congratulate someone when they work hard and achieve their goal. ("worked hard to get the contract")

Taking your hat off can show respect but that is the literal meaning. In this question they are using the idiomatic meaning, and congratulate is the best answer.

[Haihao]

Hi Canadian45,

Thanks again. But may I be a little bit more straightforward with you even though I know it's imprudent?
Well, I think if there hadn't been '(a) respect' as a choice here, I would have chosen (c) as its best answer without hesitation. However, it is because (a) fits it literally that the literalness makes me feel much safer and surer to choose it. Can I make an 'objection' to your comment like this? (I'm kiddin') - haihao

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

I like "respect" as a solution, too.

But take your hat off to someone also means to praise someone's work or achievement, and because this is also a meaning for "congratulate", (c) works quite well in the context of the test question.

Amy

[Alan]

Hi Haihao,

I think I need to speak up here as this is one of my tests. I can understand the apparent discrepancy between respect and congraulation but I have added: 'who worked hard to get the contract' to suggest it's really someone saying to them: Well done and congratulations. It brings to mind a situation that occurs at the University of Oxford. When students have finshed their final examinations, they have to have some kind of interview where they meet their examiners. This interview can be an opportunity for a student to move up if they are on the borderline between the different classes or grades of the degree they are about to receive. If the student has been absolutely brilliant, all the examiners stand up and raise their mortar boards (academic head dress/cap). The reason for this is that the student has received what is called: A congratulatory First (first class degree). Sadly I have to confess that when it came to my turn, all the examiners remained seated.

A
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You can read my EFL story A day in the life of a stately home owner