Nice

[Benjamin Barrett]

I've been hearing this one-word exclamation for a while now, perhaps a year
or so.

Today, the cashier at a coffee shop used it when I redeemed my
buy-10-get-one-free coffee card. I recall another instance, though I don't
remember the details, where someone used it in response to a story I told
where I had done something that resulted in a good result for myself.

It seems that at least one usage of this word is to compliment someone on
doing something that resulted in a positive ending for that person (or
someone else). Perhaps it's a narrowed clipping of the expression "nice
job". When I hear it, I imagine it could be replaced with "sweet", though
the converse is not necessarily true.

It seems to be used in a quiet tone of voice, not something that someone
yells as an indication of triumph. I think the final /s/ is an important
part of the word's identity.

Benjamin Barrett
Baking the World a Better Place (starting in Seattle)
www.hiroki.us