General
mazel tov
What does mazel tov mean?
The whole room yells it the instant glass or china hits the floor. Half jeer, half tradition, lifted from the Jewish wedding custom of shouting 'mazel tov' after the groom stomps the glass. In a restaurant it's how the kitchen tells the poor bastard they're not the first and won't be the last.
"Busser dropped a full bus tub by table 12 and the whole line screamed mazel tov."
Origin
Hebrew 'mazal tov' (literally 'good constellation' / good fortune), via Yiddish into English. The dropped-dishes usage rides on the Jewish wedding moment where the groom breaks a glass and guests shout the phrase.
Frequently asked questions
What does mazel tov mean when someone drops dishes?
It's a sarcastic kitchen shout when somebody drops a tray of dishes.
How do you use mazel tov in a sentence?
A tray smashes on the floor and the whole line yells "Mazel tov!"
Where does mazel tov come from?
It's a Hebrew and Yiddish phrase meaning "good luck" or "congratulations," repurposed ironically in restaurant kitchens to mark a dropped tray.
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