- An informal exclamation expressing satisfaction, approval, excitement, or that something is cool or excellent.
- Very similar in usage to Awesome! or Cool!.
Explanation
Origin
- Extends the literal meaning of sweet (pleasant taste) metaphorically to mean generally pleasant, agreeable, or desirable.
- This slang usage became particularly popular in American English in the latter half of the 20th century, possibly gaining traction in the 1960s and solidifying later.
- Like Awesome!, it's associated with youth culture but has become widespread.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Sick!
- Dope!
- Mint! (UK/Aus)
- Ace! (UK)
- Killer!
- Choice! (NZ/Aus slang excellent)
- Right on! (Expresses agreement/approval)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Fucking sweet!
- Badass!
- Kickass!
Milder/More Formal:
- Wonderful.
- Very good.
- That's fortunate.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal. Very common in casual speech, especially North American English.
- Acceptable in relaxed work environments but generally too informal for official or serious communication.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners need to distinguish this slang usage from the literal meaning (taste) or the meaning kind/gentle (e.g., She has a sweet personality). Context usually makes the meaning clear (exclamatory use).
Examples
- Person A: I got you a ticket too. Person B: Sweet!
- We get Friday off? Sweet!
- Check out my new bike! Whoa, sweet!
Dialogue
Person A: The pizza place has a two-for-one deal tonight.
Person B: Sweet! Let's order from there then.
Person A: My thoughts exactly. Pepperoni okay?
Person B: Perfect!
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: My package arrived early! Sweet! #onlineshopping #happy
- Comment on a photo of a new car: Sweet ride!
- Chat Message: Finished my last exam! Freedom! Sweet!
Response Patterns
- Similar to Awesome!: Agreement (Yeah!, Totally!), thanks (if appropriate), shared enthusiasm, smiles.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Sweet!:
- Similar to Awesome!, might lead to requests for more details about the 'sweet' thing.
- Often simply acknowledges positive news or a cool item/event.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a reaction.
Intonation
- Usually said with positive enthusiasm.
- Stress on Sweet. SWEET!
- Often a quick, sharp exclamation with falling intonation.
Generation Differences
- Widely used, particularly common from Gen X through Gen Z. Older generations understand it but might use it less frequently than Great! or Wonderful!.
Regional Variations
- Extremely common in North American English (US/Canada).
- Also used and understood in the UK, Australia, NZ, etc., but perhaps slightly less ubiquitous than in North America.