English Only » Good for you!

Hi folks,
In the past days I often heard the term "Good for you!" when I told people about positive things that happend to me. How exactly should one interprete this? Neutral, ironic or affirmative?

Hi Way,

there's a million ways to interprete it. It's all a matter of how good you know this person.

I'm using this term when I don't really care. I could also say "aha".

If I really want to let the person know that I'm happy for him I tell him so.

Cheers
Thorsten

Over here we say: "good on ya" which is basically the same. You use it whenever someone tells you, that he/she has a new job, is going on a holiday, etc. Unlike the German "schoen fuer dich" I have never experienced the phrase being used in an ironic way. However, it is certainly not meant from deep down within (like AMR) mentioned. It's just a polite response.

Hi Wayfarer,

it depends how somebody says it. When it is said with a smile and a rather upbeat tone of voice it is meant positive. If it is said in a flat kind of way it is meant superficial.

Generally speaking it is similar to saying "See ya"! It doesn't mean you will see that person again. Or: "Have a nice day!"

See ya,

Corina

Hi Wayfarer,

At first I was a bit confused as well. This kind of phrase might sound negative to us German speaking people, but it is nothing more then a phrase to make the other person feel good or give the impression you care about the other person. It has nothing to do with jealousy nor ment in a negative way either (and if so you probably wouldn't notice).


Cheers!
Byteloser

Thank you all. I might have thought of the German "Schoen fuer dich" that sounds of course kind of jealous and negative. So there´s nothing special about that term.

I find the saying "good for you" pretty funny.

However what I really can't stand is "what's that?" if somebody doesn't understand you. Sounds to me as if the other person is not interested in what you're saying. I know it isn't meant that way though...

What is the meaning of this sentences:

Sometimes it is best to say "nada".

Manchmal ist es besser, nichts zu sagen?

danke 0815


Im Kroatischen oder Russischen heißt Nada (Name) wohl
"Hoffnung"....