"grateful nod" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a gesture or action that expresses gratitude or appreciation. Example: "After receiving the award, she gave a grateful nod to the committee before stepping off the stage."
With a grateful nod toward the myriad nonprofit agencies that already have established programs linking corporate executives, their time and their money with city schools, Ms. Plesser said she believed that there was far, far more to be done.
"The Stunt Man," his most cheerful project, has fared better, and O'Toole, with a grateful nod toward Lean, enjoyed himself to no end as a tyrannical film director; even then, however, the echo of his more dandified selves proved difficult to dispel.
Pete gives a grateful nod.
The other accepted the suggestion with a grateful nod and went down the river steps to wash his feet and face, came up wiping himself dry with the end of a checkered yellow towel on his shoulder, and took his seat two steps below the granite slab on which Raju was sitting cross-legged as if it were a throne, beside an ancient shrine.
I actually gave Harriet red hair as a grateful little nod to Anne.
But he, too, was grateful for the nod from Mr. Giuliani, though he does not respect his politics.
He does not catch it clean, but the ball sits up nicely on the bounce for James McClean and Thibaut Courtois is grateful that his nod is straight into his gloves.
And the vegetarians, not to mention the woodcocks, squabs, veal calves and eels, are grateful for this nod to modern sensibilities.
Maliki nodded, ever grateful for an audience with the man who holds Iraq's destiny in his hand, thanks to the Americans' overthrow of Tehran's nemesis, Saddam Hussein.
"Doesn't it?" He nodded slowly, infinitely grateful for the bite of the rattlesnake.
Briony studied her mother's face for every trace of shifting emotion, and Emily Tallis obliged with looks of alarm, snickers of glee and, at the end, grateful smiles and wise, affirming nods.
