from your lips to God's ears

English

Etymology

The expression originated in Yiddish, spoken by Ashkenazi Jews in Europe. It was adopted into English due to the influence of Ashkenazim who immigrated to the United States.

Phrase

from your lips to God's ears

1. (informal) Used to express the speaker's wish that a preceding statement by another speaker were to come true.
   • 1987, Nancy Pickard, No Body, page 55:

     "Heaven help us," she said. "From your lips to God's ears," said Stan Pittman as he walked up to her desk.

   • 2009, Sholem Aleichem, Tevye the Dairyman: And, Motl the Cantor's Son, page 64:

     "From your lips to God's ears! May our enemies," I said, "have as much good health as I understand what is happening with you and what this game is about!"

Translations

Translations

• German: dein Wort in Gottes Ohr (de)
• Greek: απ' το στόμα σου και στου Θεού τ' αφτί (ap' to stóma sou kai stou Theoú t' aftí)
• Hebrew: מהפה שלך לאלוהים (mehapé shelkhá le'elohím)
• Russian: твои слова да богу в уши (tvoi slova da bogu v uši)
• Serbo-Croatian: iz tvojih usta u božije uši (из твојих уста у божије уши)

See also

• I wish