way to go

informal An expression of praise for having done something well. (It can also be used sarcastically to mean the opposite.) Mary: "Dad, I got an A+ on my midterm exam!" Bill: "Good job, sweetie!" Good job, Frank, now we're going to have to rebuild this entire model from scratch.

Good job! Congratulations! Way to go on reaching your charity goal of $100,000! A: "I just found out I got into Harvard!" B: "Wow, way to go!"

Inf. a phrase encouraging someone to continue the good work. As John ran over the finish line, everyone cried, "That's the way to go!" "Way to go!" said Mary when Bob finally got the car started.

Well done, as in That was a great lecture-way to go! This exclamation of approval and encouragement originated in sports, addressed to athletes who are performing well. In the 1960s it began to be used for any kind of achievement.

People say Way to go! to show that they are pleased or impressed by something someone has done. Upon exiting, the fans broke into applause and someone called out `Way to go, Mike'.

Well done, good for you. Generally uttered as an exclamation, this expression of approval and encouragement originated in sports and in the 1960s began to be transferred to other endeavors. Emma Lathen had it in the mystery novel Murder without Icing (1973), “‘Way to go, Billy!’ ‘Rah! Rah! Billy Siragusa!’” A similar ubiquitous phrase is good job, used both as a compliment and encouragement by teachers to students and in many other venues. For example, “Good job, Paul—that’s a great drawing.” See also right on.