18 Ways to React to Good News (Not “Congratulations”)
“Congratulations” is fine, but it can feel over-used. Try these 18 ways to react to good news (not “congratulations”) and you’ll sound more natural, excited, and sincere every time.
Fresh Reactions to Good News
Casual & Friendly
- That’s awesome! Shows big excitement. “I got the job!” — “That’s awesome!”
- Way to go! Short praise, like a high-five. “I passed my driving test.” — “Way to go!”
- You crushed it! You did extremely well. “Final score 98 %.” — “You crushed it!”
- So happy for you! Personal warmth. “We’re engaged!” — “So happy for you!”
- No way! That’s amazing! Surprise plus joy. “I won free tickets to Bali.” — “No way! That’s amazing!”
- Knew you could do it! Shows confidence in them. “I finished the marathon.” — “Knew you could do it!”
Polite & Warm
- That’s wonderful news! Gentle and positive. “Our offer was accepted.” — “That’s wonderful news!”
- You must be thrilled! Acknowledges their feelings. “I got the scholarship.” — “You must be thrilled!”
- Good for you! Simple, sincere approval. “I finally quit smoking.” — “Good for you!”
- Fantastic! Well deserved. Praises effort plus result. “I got the promotion.” — “Fantastic! Well deserved.”
- I’m over the moon for you! Very happy (British-flavored). “It’s a girl!” — “I’m over the moon for you!”
- Brilliant! Short, smart praise. “My paper got published.” — “Brilliant!”
Energetic & Idiomatic
- You nailed it! You succeeded perfectly. “Presentation went great.” — “You nailed it!”
- Boom! Knocked it out of the park! Home-run idiom for huge success. “Sales doubled.” — “Boom! Knocked it out of the park!”
- High five! Playful, physical praise. “I aced the test.” — “High five!”
- That’s huge! Emphasizes the size of the win. “I got the visa.” — “That’s huge!”
- Speechless! So proud of you! Shows deep emotion. “I won the award.” — “Speechless! So proud of you!”
- On cloud nine, right? Idiom for extreme happiness. “We’re having twins!” — “On cloud nine, right?”
Real-Life Dialogues
Friend: I just passed my driving test!
You: Way to go! You nailed it!
Co-worker: My daughter got into Harvard.
You: That’s wonderful news! You must be over the moon.
Brother: We’re engaged!
You: No way! That’s amazing—so happy for you both!
Quick Tips: Choosing the Right Reaction
| Situation | Recommended Reaction | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Close friend | You crushed it! | High energy, friendly. |
| Office news | Fantastic! Well deserved. | Professional yet warm. |
| Family milestone | I’m over the moon for you! | Emotional and sincere. |
Practice Tip
Pick two fresh reactions and use them the next time you hear good news—notice the smiles you get!
Why This Matters
- Native speakers rarely repeat “congratulations”—variety sounds natural.
- Fresh reactions build rapport and emotion in conversations.
- Correct phrases boost speaking-test fluency scores.
Choose one new reaction, try it today, and watch your English sparkle. Happy learning! 😊
