good on you
Well done. A warm pat on the back.
Also called good on ya.
Updated September 21, 2026
good on you pronunciation
/GOOD on yuh/
Meaning
Praise for a job handled right, a hard choice, or a kid who finally cleaned the barn. Close cousin of "good for you," but the "on" lands softer and more neighborly in rural Southern mouths. Can sound Aussie to outsiders, and fair enough; that crowd uses it plenty. Down South it still works as porch approval without getting syrupy.
How folks use it
- “You fixed that fence by yourself? Good on you.”
- “She paid off that truck early. Good on you, girl.”
Origin and etymology
Common in Australian and other Englishes as praise ("good on ya"). Also turns up in American rural talk, including Southern family speech, with the same "well done" sense. Exact birthplace is debated; Irish/Scots-Irish influence is one guess. Do not treat it as only a Southern invention.
Frequently asked questions
Is this an Australian saying?
Australians use it a lot, yes. Southern folks use it too for the same kind of praise.