Possible Clues:

• Politely congratulate
• Flatter
• You're very good at solving this, for example?
• Remark about place, one taken as pat on the back
• Place one's offered in discussion - I'm glad to receive it
• Pat on the back
• Expression of polite admiration
• Remark about place, one getting pat on the back
• Words of praise the whole company heard
• Praise from pulpit oddly cutting say