''Hear, hear'' is an
expression
Expression may refer to:
Linguistics
* Expression (linguistics), a word, phrase, or sentence
* Fixed expression, a form of words with a specific meaning
* Idiom, a type of fixed expression
* Metaphorical expression, a particular word, phrase, o ...
used as a short, repeated form of ''hear him''. It represents a listener's agreement with the point being made by a speaker.
It was originally an
imperative for directing attention to speakers, and has since been used, according to the ''
Oxford English Dictionary
The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a c ...
'', as "the regular form of cheering in the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of parliament. T ...
", with many purposes, depending on the
intonation of its user.
Its use in Parliament is linked to the fact that
applause
Applause ( Latin ''applaudere,'' to strike upon, clap) is primarily a form of ovation or praise expressed by the act of clapping, or striking the palms of the hands together, in order to create noise. Audiences usually applaud after a performanc ...
is normally (though not always) forbidden in the chambers of the House of Commons and
House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminst ...
.
The phrase ''hear him, hear him!'' was used in
Parliament
In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. Th ...
from late in the 17th century, and was reduced to ''hear!'' or ''hear, hear!'' by the late 18th century. The verb ''hear'' had earlier been used in the
King James Bible
The King James Version (KJV), also the King James Bible (KJB) and the Authorized Version, is an English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, by sponsorship of ...
as a command for others to listen.
Other phrases have been derived from ''hear, hear'', such as ''a hear, hear'' (a cheer), ''to hear-hear'' (to shout the expression), and ''hear-hearer'' (a person who does the same).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hear, Hear
English phrases
Interjections