fair to middling
Only tolerably good; somewhat favorable.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My progress on the project is only fair to middling.”
“Your golf skills are fair to middling, but you are improving every week.”
“When asked how the new restaurant was, he replied that the food was fair to middling.”
“I checked the weather report for our weekend hike, but the forecast looks fair to middling with a high chance of grey skies and light drizzle.”
“Although the critics described the performance as merely fair to middling, the audience seemed to enjoy the show well enough.”
first recorded 19th c.
The phrase originates in the commercial classification of agricultural commodities, specifically the grading of cotton and wool. The term fair denoted a specific quality of goods, as did the term middling. The earliest recorded instance of the two descriptions being joined into the compound fair to middling appears in a British publication of 1822.
The transition from a technical trade descriptor to a general social idiom occurred shortly thereafter. The first recorded instance of the usage being applied in a generalised sense appears in an American publication of 1837.
- 01
fair coin
A sequence of independent Bernoulli trials (a Bernoulli process) with probability 1/2 of success on each trial.
- 02
fair crack of the whip
Let's have an equitable attempt, match, or process. Used as an appeal for reasonableness.
- 03
fair enough
An expression used to concede a point, but suggesting that the broader argument is incorrect.
- 04
fair game
Actions permissible by the rules.
- 05
fair sex
Women collectively.
- 06
fair shake
Reasonable, unbiased treatment; a fair deal.
- 07
fair share
A significant amount, often implied to be excessive or inordinate; a great deal of something.
- 08
you can't say fairer than that
That is fair, good, or reasonable; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.
Last updated August 10, 2026