Toasting a woman can be a fun experience, and it is one of the best ways to let her know you’re interested.
Toasting someone is the highest form of flattery that is both subtle and sophisticated!
To toast a woman means to raise your glass to her during a formal or casual event.
By toasting someone, you can dedicate a drink to their honor (such as champagne, wine, or another type of alcohol).
Toasting someone can be incredibly flashy and flattering. However, it needs to be done correctly in order to be effective at communicating your message.
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The Origins of Toasting

Toasting someone with your drink is not a new thing.
The tradition of toasting has its origins embedded deeply in ancient cultures (as does anything with alcohol, really).
Toasting and even the term “toast” were spurred from literature and the Renaissance period of Europe.
Toasting in Ancient Cultures

Many ancient civilizations toasted to their Gods in order to ensure their sacrifice would be accepted.
For instance, the ancient Aztec, Maya, and Mesoamerican cultures would offer pulque to their Gods.
This was a drink that was only 6% alcohol and was made from the fermentation of the sap of the agave plant. The Aztecs would drink this on a regular basis.
However, they would load up on pulque during ceremonies dedicated to fertility rites or the coming of summer!
Perhaps toasting to fertility and mother Earth’s well-being and prosperity was one of the first instances of toasting a woman.
Pulque is not the only ancient drink to be offered for health and prosperity, however.
The ancient Greeks were also known to toast drinks to their Gods in order to ask for health.
In fact, in the famous trilogy The Odyssey, Ulysses drinks to the health of Achilles.
Toasting in Modern Times

Although many might believe that toasting was meant as a way to determine whether or not drinks were poisoned, this is not actually the case.
Many people believe that by clinking glasses, liquor would splash into another glass, and it would prove drinks were not poisoned.
On the contrary, toasting a woman and clinking her glass so hard that it spills her drink would be a bit of a turn-off.
In fact, toasting didn’t involve clinking glasses at all! Sure, today we might think of toasting as saying “Cheers” or giving a speech to a certain special lady.
However, the first known use of the term “toast” was in Shakespeare’s play, The Merry Wives of Windsor.
In the play, the character Falstaff asks for a quart of wine and tells his servants to “put a toast in it!”
This term means to literally put a piece of toast in a drink in order to take away any bitter taste, as well as soften up old bread!
A combination of all of these makes the tradition of toasting we use now, which means to lift up your glasses in celebration of health, happiness, and of course, a woman.
Building Up the Confidence to Toast

Before you toast to someone’s health, you’ll need to build up enough confidence to do so. Building up the confidence to toast a woman is easier said than done.
This is especially true if a man (or another woman) has trouble speaking in public without tripping over a few words or stuttering.
There are various things you can do to build up your speaking abilities before toasting the lady of your affection.
For instance, if you’re planning on making a toast for your significant other, you can practice in front of friends and family to prepare for when the time comes.
You can also practice in front of a mirror, which can allow you to view yourself.
In addition, choosing to look at someone in the crowd (we suggest the woman you’re toasting), will allow you to gain more confidence.
Easing General Anxiety

If you’re a generally anxious person, but still want to develop the skills to make a skillful toast, there are many exercises you can do to help.
Go up to random strangers and strike up a conversation. Remember that any feelings of anxiety will soon pass and are never permanent!
Thinking this way will allow you to both gain confidence speaking to others and ease general anxiety.
Nothing is sexier than a man with confidence, so doing this before you decide to toast a woman will add extra cool points!
How to Properly Toast

After you’ve gained the confidence to toast a woman, it’s important to toast properly.
Start off with gathering everyone’s attention. You’ll want to make sure you do this in a polite way, such as gently clinking your glass or calling out to friends and family.
Next, make sure the lady of your affection is looking toward your glass (which should be full).
After you’ve gathered everyone and have a moment of silence, you can toast a woman to her:
- Health
- Beauty
- Success
- Love
- Friendship
- Recent achievement
The possibilities are endless. Whatever you choose to toast a woman for, make sure to make it something positive.
Toasting a woman if she’s been unfaithful in an effort to expose her might feel good in the short term, but in the long term, this can be seen as vindictive and a major red flag for future relationships.
When Not to Toast

Although these are all great pointers to toast a woman, it’s also important to know when not to toast a woman.
We hate to say it, but don’t toast at a funeral!
Unless you know the deceased would have preferred you to toast, or you’re gathering people around to celebrate a loved one’s life – in that case, it’s ok.
It’s not appropriate to toast when everyone is mourning. This can be seen as heartless.
In addition, it’s generally not a good idea to toast a woman for a proposal at another major event, such as a wedding.
Contrary to popular belief, proposing at a wedding is tacky and is never acceptable.
These wedding celebrations have taken months of preparation, so find another time to toast, or make a small toast instead of a huge proposal.
Last, but not least, if your partner tells you they don’t want you to toast them – don’t.
If your partner is shy and doesn’t like attention, toasting them during an event might seem cruel and can make them feel embarrassed and anxious.
Similarly, if you’ve been trying to get the attention of a certain woman who has shown no signs of flirting back with you, don’t toast her.
This might seem like a desperate attempt to force her into interacting with you, which is just plain creepy.
Best Occasions to Deliver a Toast

If your partner doesn’t mind extra attention, if the woman is open to flirting, and if you’ve had the confidence to work on your toast, it’s time to find the perfect setting!
Any social gathering where the mood is vibrant and open to toasting is acceptable.
Some work functions might be acceptable if you’re among close co-workers or in a casual function. This is a fine line, though. Be especially cautious if you are planning to toast your superior.
It’s best to stick with events where you’re among friends, and where you’ll be able to quickly get the attention of your counterpart without having to scream too loudly.
On the other hand, intimate dates are also great places to toast.
Have a quiet conversation between you and your loved one, and toast them during your date for a sophisticated flirting technique.
What if They Don’t Drink?

It’s completely fine to toast without liquor. You can substitute your drink or your lady’s drink with apple cider, sparkling cider, water, or any number of fruity drinks.
Make sure it’s appropriate in your lady’s culture to drink and accept a toast before doing one.
If your lady accepts your toast by smiling back and nodding, don’t be offended if they don’t want to drink out of their glass.
Perhaps they’ve had enough already and simply want to enjoy the moment.
Following Up on a Toast

It can be easy to toast a woman and think you’re making her feel special, noticed, and beautiful.
As a woman, however, it can be confusing if a man suddenly toasts you, but then disappears.
As a woman, when a man toasts you, it means he’s definitely interested in you and something about you has caught his eye.
For a man to toast a woman, it takes quite a bit of effort and due diligence. As a woman, keep an eye out for this man and approach him if you feel comfortable.
As a man, you should seek out your date and follow up on your toast with some more conversation and drinks. Otherwise, your toast can just seem confusing.
Final Thoughts
Toasting a woman has its origins in ancient times, and it’s been a customary tradition since well before modern dating etiquette was created.
Nevertheless, toasting a woman to her health, beauty, success, or love is still a sophisticated, fun, and even powerful way to grab her attention.