How did “way to go” come to mean “well done”?

Question

The idiomatic expression “way to go” used as an exclamation of approval appears to have been first used in sports and later as a general set phrase.

How did the literal meaning “way to go” acquire the figurative sense? Literally it seems to suggest “still a long way ahead”, hardly an expression of achievement.

So, how did this turn in meaning arise?

Answer 1

It's probably shortened from

"That's the way to go"

meaning

"That's the way to do it."

A Dictionary of Catch Phrases by Eric Partridge (2nd ed, 1985) says the following under the entry "attaboy!" (p. 34):

(Anthony Brown) adds, 1978, 'I've heard a similar expression, used by coaches to inspire a successful athlete: way to go (fellow): US: since c. 1950. [It means] "That's how to do it!" Revitalised on American television, especially in "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-in", 1960s.'

Answer 2

In the OED, we find way to go related to sports’ that’s the way to go in there (Al Klasoskus was a New York Giants football player):

way noun¹ & interjection¹
P.5.f. Originally and chiefly North American. way to go: expressing approval, support, admiration; ‘well done’. 1950–
_{[earliest attestation]
[1942   As they point out, it is much easier to shout ‘Atta way to go there, Jonesy, old boy.’ Instead of ‘That's the way to go in there, Klasoskus.’ —Daily Ardmoreite (Ardmore, Oklahoma) 2 September 8/1]*}

_{Source: Oxford English Dictionary (login required)}

_{*brackets around an entire quotation indicates that a quotation is relevant to the development of a meaning but not directly illustrative of it.}

Answer 3

Green’s Dictionary of Slang lists the exclamation way to go! as a short form of that’s the right way to go, noting that it may have been coined for the 1940 American biographical film Knute Rockne All American, which tells the story of Notre Dame's legendary football coach Knute Rockne.

way to go! excl.
also way to be!
[allegedly coined for the 1940 film Knute Rockne]

an excl. of approval, i.e. that’s the right way to go.

1966 [US] J. Mills Panic in Needle Park (1971) 169: Helen threw her arms around Hotchner and gave him a hug. That drew a cheer and cries of ‘Way to go, Hotch!’ from other narcos in the hall.