Cool MateNice one vs That's a good one
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Nice one
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
That's a good one
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Nice one
| Nice one | That's a good one | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //naɪs wʌn//🇺🇸 //naɪs wʌn// | 🇬🇧 //ðæts ə ɡʊd wʌn//🇺🇸 //ðæts ə ɡʊd wʌn// |
| Meaning | A way to say 'good job' or 'well done.' | That's funny or clever. |
| Example | You finished the project early? Nice one! | When he said he could juggle knives, I said, 'That's a good one!' |
| Register | Informal | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| Collocations | nice one mate, that was a nice one, give a nice one, here’s a nice one | that's a good joke, that's a good point, that's a good idea |
| Antonyms | - | That's a bad one, That's a poor one, That's a terrible one |
| Common mistakes | Used in formal settings, where a more professional expression is required., Confused with 'nice' used alone, which lacks the additional context., Overused in contexts where more specific praise would be better. | Using it in formal situations where humor isn't appropriate., Confusing with 'that's a good idea' which is more serious., Incorrectly using it to respond to serious statements. |
| Usage notes | Often used among friends or in casual settings to express approval. Not suitable for formal situations. | Use this phrase when someone makes a joke or a clever remark. It's informal and best in casual settings. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Nice one vs That's a good one
What's the difference between Nice one and That's a good one?
Nice one: A way to say 'good job' or 'well done.' That's a good one: That's funny or clever.
Which is more common: Nice one and That's a good one?
Nice one is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Nice one: You finished the project early? Nice one! That's a good one: When he said he could juggle knives, I said, 'That's a good one!'
Can I use Nice one and That's a good one interchangeably?
Not always. Nice one and That's a good one are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.