congratulate someone on their success

Meaning

This expression means to praise someone and express your pleasure or happiness for their achievements, good fortune, or successful outcome. It is a polite and supportive social gesture used in both personal and professional settings.

Examples

• I called my sister to congratulate her on her success in the marathon.

  I called my sister to congratulate her on her success in the marathon.

• It is polite to congratulate someone on their success, even if they are your competitor.

  It is polite to congratulate someone on their success, even if they are your competitor.

• We sent a card to congratulate them on their success with the new business.

  We sent a card to congratulate them on their success with the new business.

• He was quick to congratulate his colleague on her success.

  He was quick to congratulate his colleague on her success.

• They hosted a dinner party to congratulate him on his success.

  They hosted a dinner party to congratulate him on his success.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I want to congratulate you for your success.

  ✓ I want to congratulate you on your success.

  In English, we congratulate someone 'on' something (such as their success or an exam), not 'for' it.

• ✗ She congratulated to him on his success.

  ✓ She congratulated him on his success.

  'Congratulate' is a transitive verb and does not take the preposition 'to' before the object.

Related Expressions

Practice

• In business, it is common practice to ___.

  💡 praise an individual for their achievement

  Show answer

  congratulate someone on their success

• A simple message is enough to ___.

  💡 express happiness for someone's achievement

  Show answer

  congratulate someone on their success