Nice one!

Status
Not open for further replies.

Johnyxxx

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2014
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
Czech
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
Hi,

Do nice one! and great! mean exactly the same?

A: Have you heard the news? Mark is not on the waggon any more.
B: Great/nice one, let us invite him for a drink.

Thanks a lot
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
Both "Great!" and "Nice one!" are commonly heard in BrE. They're quite informal so it's odd to see either of them before "Let us ...". Usually, we say "Let's invite him ...".
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
"Nice one" does not work for me there. It is often used to acknowledge an accomplishment of some kind. I see none there.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
"Nice one" does not work for me there. It is often used to acknowledge an accomplishment of some kind. I see none there.

If, say, he had given up drinking for a month and was going back out with his friends, who were glad to see him back in the bars, it would work for me in BrE.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
If "Nice one" weren't appropriate, then nor would "Great!" be. They both suggest that the speaker is happy to hear that Mark is off the wagon and has gone back to drinking alcohol.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
It may be my AmE ears, but I don't see "nice one" in that situation. "Great" expresses approval of the circumstance of the friend rejoining his friends.
 

Peedeebee

Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2015
Member Type
Teacher (Other)
Native Language
English
Home Country
Great Britain
Current Location
Great Britain
We in BrE are quite happy with "nice one" even when there isn't a particular accomplishment. Possibly popularised by the Beatles all those years ago? And definitely informal.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I agree with Mike.
"Nice one!" is spoken to the person who accomplished something in the U.S.

The whole things seems strange. Unless someone has given up alcohol for Lent or is temporarily taking medication that doesn't mix with alcohol, usually "falling off the wagon" means that someone with a drinking problem has been unable to not drink - not a situation that is "great!" at all.
 

MikeNewYork

VIP Member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I agree with you about "great". I was taking it to mean that his friends were happy to have him back in the group.
 

Tdol

No Longer With Us (RIP)
Staff member
Joined
Nov 13, 2002
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
Japan
I agree with Mike.
"Nice one!" is spoken to the person who accomplished something in the U.S.

OK that's the difference- we're happy to use it in BrE for general positivity.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top