"Good for you"

[Trenchcoat]

What does this saying mean when FSU women say it? I'very had a couple of women on the ukraine say it at one point or another and wondered do they mean it literally like sincerely or is there a hidden meaning like they think you are being selfish or a kind of sarcasm. Just wondered, I may be reading more into it than perhaps I should but whenever FSU women say it, it kind of feels like there is a hidden meaning to me, but perhaps it's just me.

[BillyB]

wondered do they mean it literally like sincerely or is there a hidden meaning like they think you are being selfish or a kind of sarcasm.

What did you say exactly for them to reply "Good for you"?

[Trenchcoat]

Don't fully remember. I know with one I was having some cake, I said it was nice she replied 'good for you. I did offer to buy her some bit she refused. The other time it was something I had done I think when I was talking about myself or maybe a nice suite I had booked myself into, can't quite remember now. I Juse wondered if the phrase has some kind of hidden conotation in the FSU I don't know about.

[jone]

Don't fully remember. I know with one I was having some cake, I said it was nice she replied 'good for you. I did offer to buy her some bit she refused. The other time it was something I had done I think when I was talking about myself or maybe a nice suite I had booked myself into, can't quite remember now. I Juse wondered if the phrase has some kind of hidden conotation in the FSU I don't know about.

Was that before or after you told her she had to buy her own coffee?

[Trenchcoat]

Was that before or after you told her she had to buy her own coffee?

Lol, nah I bought her a drink I think or at least offered to like the cake. I'm pretty sure she had a drink. Can't quite remember fully whether I offered to buy her cake before or after the 'good for you' phrase. I dunno all that stuff is cheap enough for me out there even if I'm buying for two but perhaps she was stating to feel it a bit as they are pretty poor out there - just wondered really.

[Brasscasing]

Trench,

I looked into the term "Good for you" on a few Russian and Ukrainian linguistic/translation sites (take that for what it's worth) searching it under insult, derogatory, cursing, similar wording, etc. and nothing came back.

With my limited knowledge of the language I would suggest, like in the English language, it may be all in the delivery in that "Good for you" can be said as a positive exclamation or in a somewhat facetious, sarcastic way. Tone and context of the conversation would matter I would think.

Was it said to you in English or did you translate the phrase/wording yourself?

Brass

[Trenchcoat]

Trench,

I looked into the term "Good for you" on a few Russian and Ukrainian linguistic/translation sites (take that for what it's worth) searching it under insult, derogatory, cursing, similar wording, etc. and nothing came back.

With my limited knowledge of the language I would suggest, like in the English language, it may be all in the delivery in that "Good for you" can be said as a positive exclamation or in a somewhat facetious, sarcastic way. Tone and context of the conversation would matter I would think.

Was it said to you in English or did you translate the phrase/wording yourself?

Brass

It was in English she spoke, it wasn't really in an obliviously facesium way or anything but since Ive had it come up a couple of times now thought I would ask just out of interest. I know a lot of foreigners areally not necessarily clued up the saying some stuff wit just an unintended tone could be taken to be a firm of wit, sarcasm, jibe, attitude, etc. I don't get bothered over such stuff I just wondered as a couple of girls have said it now both in the ukraine. Perhaps it's just the English response phrases they learn. Whereas  here in the west we know people can give a slant to a perfectly reasonable phrase such as this if meant at face value. Just my thoughts so far on this.

[Brasscasing]

It was in English she spoke, it wasn't really in an obliviously facesium way or anything but since Ive had it come up a couple of times now thought I would ask just out of interest. I know a lot of foreigners areally not necessarily clued up the saying some stuff wit just an unintended tone could be taken to be a firm of wit, sarcasm, jibe, attitude, etc. I don't get bothered over such stuff I just wondered as a couple of girls have said it now both in the ukraine. Perhaps it's just the English response phrases they learn. Whereas  here in the west we know people can give a slant to a perfectly reasonable phrase such as this if meant at face value. Just my thoughts so far on this.

On the face of it, I'd say this is your first, best answer (my bolded) but I'd be interested in a native speaker's thoughts on your query.

Brass

[msmob]

What does this saying mean when FSU women say it? I'very had a couple of women on the ukraine say it at one point or another and wondered do they mean it literally like sincerely or is there a hidden meaning like they think you are being selfish or a kind of sarcasm. Just wondered, I may be reading more into it than perhaps I should but whenever FSU women say it, it kind of feels like there is a hidden meaning to me, but perhaps it's just me.

Never heard it said in English by a Russian or even in Russian ...I've often hard 'Very well' used as 'very good' or (молодец) - Well done ?
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[JayH]

What does this saying mean when FSU women say it? I'very had a couple of women on the ukraine say it at one point or another and wondered do they mean it literally like sincerely or is there a hidden meaning like they think you are being selfish or a kind of sarcasm. Just wondered, I may be reading more into it than perhaps I should but whenever FSU women say it, it kind of feels like there is a hidden meaning to me, but perhaps it's just me.

In your case it means she  has figured out you are a moron--  a greedy one at that!

[Trenchcoat]

In your case it means she  has figured out you are a moron--  a greedy one at that!

Oh, I see that will explain it, lol.

[Trenchcoat]

On the face of it, I'd say this is your first, best answer (my bolded) but I'd be interested in a native speaker's thoughts on your query.

Brass

Yeah, I think we're probably right here Brass.

[alex330]

My wife says the expression does not exist in Ukraine. It is just an English saying they pick up like Brass mentions above.