He caught Paris's eye and gave him a small, approving nod.

To create a stand-off/ Parlabane suggested, to Joanna's approving nod.

He gave her a quick, approving nod.

'You did quite right, Chilvers,' she said with a quick, approving nod.

The recon Marine gave a curt, approving nod.

The Abbot turned to her with a slow, approving nod.

Meanwhile everyone else stared at him in consternation while Sammy gave his student a very small, approving nod.

She deliberately omitted the honorific and saw Liesel's approving nod.

I told him I did, and he favored me with a second approving nod.

Janeway gave him a faint, approving nod, and went on.