Good job

[0252] Well done

🎲 Nice work
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • An expression of praise and approval, synonymous with Good job, often implying accomplishment through effort or skill.

Origin

  • Simple combination of Well (adverb meaning satisfactorily or skillfully) and Done (past participle of 'do'). It literally means [It was] done well.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Good job.
  • Nice work.
  • Great job. / Great work.
  • Excellent. / Outstanding.
  • Bravo.
  • Top marks. (UK, often in educational context)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Good job
  • Nice work / Nice one (UK/Aus)
  • Way to go
  • Kudos / Props
  • Nailed it / Killed it

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Fucking brilliant! (Especially UK)
  • Hell of a job!
  • Awesome shit! (Very vulgar)

More Formal / Emphatic Praise:

  • Excellent. / Outstanding.
  • Superb.
  • A fine accomplishment.
  • My compliments.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Widely appropriate in informal, semi-formal, and formal settings.
  • Often perceived as slightly more formal or traditional than Good job. Very common in British English.
  • Suitable for praising both minor and major accomplishments.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Very straightforward. Hard to misunderstand.
  • In cooking, well-done refers to meat cooked thoroughly, which is a completely different meaning. Context makes the difference clear.

Examples

  • You got the promotion? Well done!
  • That presentation was excellent. Well done.
  • (To a chef) The meal was superb, well done.

Dialogue

Coach: You played a great game today, team. Well done.

Captain: Thanks, Coach! We really pulled together in the second half.

Coach: You certainly did. That final goal was perfectly executed. Well done, striker!

Social Media Examples

  • Comment on graduation photos: Congratulations! Well done! 🎉
  • Reply to a post about completing a marathon: Amazing achievement! Well done!
  • LinkedIn post acknowledging a colleague's success: Huge congrats to Sarah on leading the project launch. Well done!

Response Patterns

  • Thank you. / Thanks.
  • I appreciate that.
  • Glad you liked it. / Glad it went well.
  • Cheers. (UK/Aus informal thanks)

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Similar to Good job.
  • After hearing Well done: Receiver expresses thanks.
  • After saying Well done: Speaker might offer specific praise or move on.

Conversation Starter

  • No. A response to an action or achievement.

Intonation

  • Positive and approving tone. Emphasis often on Well. WELL done.
  • Can sound slightly more formal or sincere than Good job in some contexts.

Generation Differences

  • Used and understood by all generations, perhaps slightly more prevalent among older generations or in more formal contexts compared to slang alternatives.

Regional Variations

  • Very common in all major English-speaking regions, perhaps especially so in British and Commonwealth English.
Good job
🎲 Nice work