Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
X's and O's [in letters]
English answer:
kisses and hugs [hugs and kisses]
Added to glossary by
Terry Burgess
Jul 24, 2008 01:58
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
Mexico
I place Quality and Accuracy above speed
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, English
X's and O's [in letters]
Non-PRO
English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Affectionately closing a letter, etc.
Hello all:-)
A dear friend just asked me what--at the closing of an affectionate/intimate letter--was the meaning or significance of the X's and O's--- following or below the name of the sender.....and particularly why the X's were apparently always in upper case and the O's in lower case.
Growing up in Ireland, this was always the custom and I, personally, still use it today...shamefully without knowning precisely why. I'm sure the X's mean "kisses"----but the O's??
In advance, I appreciate your help:-)
Terry
A dear friend just asked me what--at the closing of an affectionate/intimate letter--was the meaning or significance of the X's and O's--- following or below the name of the sender.....and particularly why the X's were apparently always in upper case and the O's in lower case.
Growing up in Ireland, this was always the custom and I, personally, still use it today...shamefully without knowning precisely why. I'm sure the X's mean "kisses"----but the O's??
In advance, I appreciate your help:-)
Terry
Responses
| 5 +13 | kisses and hugs |
Mark Berelekhis
|
| 5 +11 | kisses and hugs |
David Hollywood
|
Change log
Jul 24, 2008 04:09: Tony M changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Jul 24, 2008 17:19: Terry Burgess changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/18950">Terry Burgess's</a> old entry - "X's and O's [in letters]"" to ""kisses and hugs""
Jul 24, 2008 17:21: Terry Burgess changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/18950">Terry Burgess's</a> old entry - "X's and O's [in letters]"" to ""hugs and kisses""
Responses
+13
1 min
Mark Berelekhis
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian , English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
34
Selected
kisses and hugs
X = kisses
O = hugs
:)
O = hugs
:)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Demi Ebrite
: Absolutely! Maybe the upper case X's are extra 'big' kisses!
3 mins
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Thank you, debrite. An interesting interpretation :)
|
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| agree |
David Hollywood
: on the button Mark :)
4 mins
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Thank you, David. A fun question, this one :)
|
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| agree |
Will Matter
: Right. Nothing but that.
10 mins
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Thank you, Will.
|
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| agree |
NancyLynn
11 mins
|
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Thank you, NancyLynn.
|
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| agree |
Óscar Delgado Gosálvez
30 mins
|
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Thank you, Oscar.
|
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| agree |
orientalhorizon
32 mins
|
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Thank you, oriental.
|
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| agree |
Arnold T.
1 hr
|
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Thank you, Arnold.
|
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| agree |
Carla_am
2 hrs
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Thank you, Carla.
|
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| agree |
Liam Hamilton
3 hrs
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Thank you, Liam.
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| agree |
savaria (X)
4 hrs
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Thank you, Gabor.
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| agree |
airmailrpl
: -
5 hrs
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Thank you, airmail.
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| agree |
Phong Le
5 hrs
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Thank you, phong.
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| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
7 hrs
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Thank you, Patricia.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "It's at times like this when one truly wishes it were possible to split the points:-(
But I have to give them to Mark, however, David, I send you a "O" [capital]:-) Won't send you an "X" as it might be misconstrued:-)Thank you both..and all the colleagues who chimed in"
+11
1 min
David Hollywood
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
116
kisses and hugs
:)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 mins (2008-07-24 02:01:09 GMT)
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although in English I would prefer the order "hugs and kisses"
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Note added at 5 mins (2008-07-24 02:04:02 GMT)
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don't know why though lol just the way we would say it I think ....
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 mins (2008-07-24 02:01:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
although in English I would prefer the order "hugs and kisses"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2008-07-24 02:04:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
don't know why though lol just the way we would say it I think ....
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Demi Ebrite
: Written, it does look better as 'hugs and kisses'! I always sign my blog posts and email xo(and my username unitials) - I can't say why I place the x first . . . lowercase! . . . : )
6 mins
|
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thanks debrite I still can't explain why "hugs and kisses" is more usual but that's just what I would say ...
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| agree |
Will Matter
10 mins
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thanks Will Matter :)
|
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| agree |
NancyLynn
12 mins
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thanks Nancy :)
|
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| agree |
Óscar Delgado Gosálvez
30 mins
|
| agree |
orientalhorizon
32 mins
|
| agree |
Arnold T.
1 hr
|
| agree |
savaria (X)
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Victoria Porter-Burns
: definitely 'hugs and kisses', as you say
5 hrs
|
| agree |
airmailrpl
: -
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Buck
: the expression in English is hugs and kisses, even if you put the Xs first :)
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Patricia Townshend (X)
7 hrs
|
Discussion
It's at times like this when one truly wishes it were possible to split the points:-(
But I have to give them to Mark, however, David, I send you a "O" [capital]:-) Won't send you an "X" as it might be misconstrued:-)Thank you both..and all the colleagues who chimed in