47 Idioms for Appreciation
1. Tip your hat
Meaning: Show respect or appreciation; acknowledge merit.
Example: I tip my hat to the volunteers who stayed late.
Alternatives: Hats off, salute, kudos.
2. Hats off
Meaning: Congratulations or praise; literal removal of hat in respect.
Example: Hats off to the team for hitting the deadline.
Alternatives: Kudos, bravo, applause.
3. Kudos
Meaning: Praise and recognition for achievement.
Example: Kudos on the stellar presentation!
Alternatives: Props, credit, acclaim.
4. Props
Meaning: Slang for proper respect or appreciation.
Example: Big props for helping me move.
Alternatives: Kudos, credit, respect.
5. Credit where credit is due
Meaning: Acknowledge someone’s rightful contribution.
Example: Credit where credit is due—she solved the bug.
Alternatives: Give dues, recognize merit, fair praise.
6. Give dues
Meaning: Offer deserved appreciation.
Example: Let’s give dues to the backstage crew.
Alternatives: Credit, acknowledge, praise.
7. Bravo
Meaning: Exclamation of approval, especially after a performance.
Example: Bravo! Encore!
Alternatives: Applause, brava, kudos.
8. Take a bow
Meaning: Accept applause or recognition.
Example: Take a bow—you earned this award.
Alternatives: Accept praise, enjoy kudos, bask in glory.
9. Standing ovation
Meaning: Audience rises and claps to show high appreciation.
Example: The violinist received a standing ovation.
Alternatives: Thunderous applause, cheers, acclaim.
10. Thunderous applause
Meaning: Very loud, enthusiastic clapping.
Example: His speech ended with thunderous applause.
Alternatives: Standing ovation, cheers, hand-clapping.
11. Cheers
Meaning: Shouts of approval or gratitude (also a toast).
Example: Cheers for the ride home!
Alternatives: Thanks, kudos, applause.
12. Salute
Meaning: Gesture or words showing respect and appreciation.
Example: We salute the nurses on the front line.
Alternatives: Hats off, tribute, acknowledge.
13. Tribute
Meaning: Act or statement praising someone’s merit.
Example: The concert was a tribute to local heroes.
Alternatives: Homage, salute, recognition.
14. Homage
Meaning: Special honor or respect publicly displayed.
Example: The film pays homage to classic noir.
Alternatives: Tribute, salute, acknowledgment.
15. Shout-out
Meaning: Public expression of thanks or recognition.
Example: Big shout-out to my editor!
Alternatives: Mention, plug, kudos.
16. Pat on the back
Meaning: Symbolic gesture of praise or appreciation.
Example: Give yourself a pat on the back for finishing.
Alternatives: Kudos, applause, thumbs-up.
17. Thumbs-up
Meaning: Hand signal showing approval or appreciation.
Example: The coach gave a thumbs-up after the play.
Alternatives: Okay sign, approval, green light.
18. Gold star
Meaning: Symbol of high praise or merit.
Example: Gold star for punctuality today!
Alternatives: Merit badge, kudos, A-plus.
19. A-plus
Meaning: Top grade; metaphor for excellent appreciation.
Example: A-plus effort on the rescue mission.
Alternatives: Gold star, top marks, kudos.
20. Top marks
Meaning: Highest score; figurative praise.
Example: Top marks for creativity!
Alternatives: A-plus, gold star, full points.
21. Full points
Meaning: Maximum score; enthusiastic appreciation.
Example: Full points for honesty.
Alternatives: Top marks, kudos, credit.
22. Nod of approval
Meaning: Gestural sign of acceptance and appreciation.
Example: The mentor’s nod of approval boosted confidence.
Alternatives: Thumbs-up, okay, green light.
23. Green light
Meaning: Signal of approval or appreciation to proceed.
Example: The board gave the green light to the project.
Alternatives: Go-ahead, approval, thumbs-up.
24. Seal of approval
Meaning: Formal sign that something is appreciated or accepted.
Example: The eco-label is a seal of approval for consumers.
Alternatives: Stamp, endorsement, certification.
25. Stamp of approval
Meaning: Same as seal; official or symbolic endorsement.
Example: The critic’s stamp of approval boosted sales.
Alternatives: Seal, endorsement, okay.
26. Endorsement
Meaning: Public approval or recommendation.
Example: Celebrity endorsement increased brand trust.
Alternatives: Approval, backing, support.
27. Backing
Meaning: Support or approval, often financial or moral.
Example: Thank you for your backing of the campaign.
Alternatives: Support, endorsement, approval.
28. Support
Meaning: General approval and encouragement.
Example: Your support means the world to us.
Alternatives: Backing, endorsement, appreciation.
29. Accolade
Meaning: Award or privilege expressing praise.
Example: The film earned accolades at every festival.
Alternatives: Award, honor, kudos.
30. Honor
Meaning: Privilege or award showing high respect.
Example: It is an honor to introduce tonight’s speaker.
Alternatives: Privilege, accolade, tribute.
31. Privilege
Meaning: Special advantage or honor expressing appreciation.
Example: It’s a privilege to work with you.
Alternatives: Honor, pleasure, appreciation.
32. Pleasure
Meaning: Happy appreciation of an experience or person.
Example: It’s been a pleasure collaborating.
Alternatives: Joy, delight, enjoyment.
33. Delight
Meaning: Great pleasure; enthusiastic appreciation.
Example: The children’s concert was an absolute delight.
Alternatives: Joy, pleasure, treat.
34. Treat
Meaning: Something that gives enjoyment and appreciation.
Example: The backstage tour was a real treat.
Alternatives: Delight, joy, pleasure.
35. Joy
Meaning: Feeling of pleasure and appreciation.
Example: It’s a joy to watch her paint.
Alternatives: Delight, pleasure, happiness.
36. Happiness
Meaning: General feeling of appreciative contentment.
Example: Your happiness with the result matters.
Alternatives: Joy, satisfaction, delight.
37. Satisfaction
Meaning: Appreciation derived from fulfillment or quality.
Example: Customer satisfaction is our goal.
Alternatives: Contentment, approval, pleasure.
38. Contentment
Meaning: Peaceful appreciation of what one has.
Example: The quiet garden brought contentment.
Alternatives: Satisfaction, happiness, ease.
39. Gratitude
Meaning: Thankful appreciation for kindness or benefits.
Example: Please accept my heartfelt gratitude.
Alternatives: Thanks, thankfulness, appreciation.
40. Thanks
Meaning: Simple expression of appreciation.
Example: Thanks for the lift!
Alternatives: Thank you, cheers, much obliged.
41. Much obliged
Meaning: Polite, slightly formal thanks.
Example: I’m much obliged for your help.
Alternatives: Thank you, grateful, in your debt.
42. In your debt
Meaning: Feel appreciative obligation for a favor.
Example: I’m in your debt for the referral.
Alternatives: Much obliged, grateful, owe you one.
43. Owe you one
Meaning: Informal promise to repay a kindness.
Example: Thanks for covering me—I owe you one.
Alternatives: In your debt, I’ll repay, grateful.
44. Bread and circuses
Meaning: Superficial appeasement; can imply shallow appreciation rather than genuine value.
Example: Critics called the gala bread and circuses to distract from budget cuts.
Alternatives: Superficial treats, distractions, token gestures.
45. Token gesture
Meaning: Small symbolic act of appreciation, sometimes seen as insufficient.
Example: A free mug felt like a token gesture after months of overtime.
Alternatives: Symbolic act, lip service, empty gift.
46. Lip service
Meaning: Insincere verbal appreciation without action.
Example: The boss paid lip service to work-life balance.
Alternatives: Empty words, token praise, hollow promise.
47. Hollow promise
Meaning: Appreciation or pledge that lacks substance or follow-through.
Example: The raise turned out to be a hollow promise.
Alternatives: Empty vow, lip service, token gesture.
Exercise to Practice – Appreciation Idioms Quiz
Sources
- Cambridge Dictionary – Cambridge Idioms
- Merriam-Webster – MW Idioms
- Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries – Oxford Idioms
- IdiomExplorer corpus – IdiomExplorer