‘I passed all my exams!’ ‘Well done! Let’s go out and celebrate.’
Congratulations: used for praising someone who has achieved something important, such as passing a major exam:
‘I’ve passed my driving test.‘ ‘Congratulations!’
Good for you: an informal way of telling someone that you approve of what they have done:
‘I told him I would only do it if he paid me more.’ ‘Good for you. He needed to be told.’
Way to go/Good job: a more informal way of telling someone that they have done something well:
Way to go, Mary! Keep up the good work.
‘We should finish just ahead of schedule.’ ‘Good job, Karl! That’s fantastic news!’
Good thinking/That’s an idea/You’re a genius: used for praising someone when you think that their idea or suggestion is good:
Hannah, you’re a genius! I never would have thought of that myself.
Good thinking! That’s a much better way of doing it.
Someone is to be congratulated: a formal way of saying that someone has done well:
Your secretary is to be congratulated for his prompt actions.
Let’s hear it for…/Hats off to…: used for saying that you think someone deserves a lot of praise:
Let’s hear it for everyone who took part in the campaign.
Hats off to Derrick and his team! They finished the project in record time.
Life skills tip of the week: ways of praising someone | Macmillan