not half bad
Pretty good, imperfect but more than OK.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“This homemade soup is not half bad.”
“I was worried about the new movie, but it turned out to be not half bad.”
“Although the amateur musician lacked formal training, his performance was not half bad and earned a warm round of applause.”
A variant of the phrase not bad, sharing a common construction with the adverbial not half.
- 01
all over hell's half acre
All over the place; everywhere.
- 02
bad actor
An individual or entity with a prior criminal conviction, or who has been sanctioned by the court or regulator.
- 03
bad apple
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
- 04
bad books
Disfavor.
- 05
bad business
Synonym of bad news (“irritating, troublesome or harmful thing, situation or person”).
- 06
bad company
The wrong crowd.
- 07
bad egg
Someone whose behaviour is reprehensible or irresponsible; a rogue.
- 08
bad hair day
A day when things seem to be unmanageable or go wrong.
Last updated August 10, 2026