that sounded good

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that sounded good" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is usually used in response to a suggestion or statement that was made by someone else. For example, "Let's go to the beach this weekend" - "That sounded good."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

Well, that sounded good.

The New York Times

Mortgage, this was called, a piece of banker's cleverness that sounded good to many.

The New Yorker

"He said, 'We want you to be the closer.' That sounded good to me.

The New York Times - Sports

Because they were frequently barred from adopting names used by Christians, some simply chose compounds that sounded good, e.g., Rosenthal ("rose valley").

Encyclopedia Britannica

He finds himself held to a standard that sounded good on the campaign trail, but may not be realistic in office.

The New York Times

"I wanted to write something that sounded good on the radio," he admits, grinning, "even if it doesn't actually say very much".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"Does that sound good?" I asked, and Mom nodded.

The New York Times - Magazine

"This is something that sounds good," she said.

The New York Times

Dang, that sounds good.

Huffington Post

Yeah that sounds good and middle-class.

Vice

Choose something that sounds good.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To add nuance, follow "that sounded good" with a "but" clause to introduce potential concerns or considerations without completely dismissing the initial positive impression.

Common error

Avoid using "that sounded good" repetitively in conversations or writing. Vary your responses with alternatives like "that seems appealing" or "I like the sound of that" to maintain engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that sounded good" functions as an interjection or response, expressing a positive reaction or agreement to a suggestion, idea, or statement. Ludwig AI confirms this, as the phrase typically appears in dialogues or discussions to indicate approval.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that sounded good" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to convey immediate agreement or approval. It functions as a versatile interjection suitable for neutral to informal contexts, and frequently appears in News & Media, as confirmed by Ludwig. While effective, consider varying your responses with alternatives like "that seemed appealing" or "I liked the sound of that" to maintain engagement. Ludwig AI indicates its appropriateness across various situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that seemed appealing

Replaces "sounded" with "seemed" and "good" with "appealing" to suggest a positive initial impression.

that was agreeable

Uses "agreeable" instead of "good" to indicate consent or willingness.

I liked the sound of that

Alters the phrase to a first-person perspective emphasizing personal approval.

that appeared promising

Substitutes "sounded" with "appeared" and "good" with "promising" to highlight potential benefits.

that struck a chord

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiomatic expression meaning it resonated well.

that seemed like a plan

Uses a more informal expression to convey agreement with a proposed idea.

that was a tempting offer

Focuses on the attractiveness of a proposal, particularly in a negotiation or offer context.

that held some promise

Indicates a degree of optimism about the potential outcome or benefits.

that idea resonates with me

Implies a deeper connection or understanding with the suggested idea.

that was welcome news

Emphasizes the positive reception of the information or suggestion.

FAQs

How can I use "that sounded good" in a sentence?

You can use "that sounded good" to express agreement or approval of a suggestion or statement. For example, "Let's try the new Italian restaurant" - "That sounded good".

What can I say instead of "that sounded good"?

You can use alternatives like "that seemed appealing", "I liked the sound of that", or "that was agreeable" depending on the context.

Is "that sounded good to me" grammatically correct?

Yes, "that sounded good to me" is grammatically correct and adds emphasis to your personal approval. It's a slightly more formal version of "that sounded good".

What's the difference between "that sounds good" and "that sounded good"?

"That sounds good" implies a current or future action, while "that sounded good" refers to something that was suggested or proposed in the past. For example, "Let's order pizza tonight" - "That sounds good". "We should have ordered pizza last night" - "That sounded good".