# you can't say fairer than that

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/you-cant-say-fairer-than-that
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

That is fair, good, or reasonable; one cannot hope for a better decision or outcome.

## Examples

- I will pay half the cost; you can't say fairer than that.
- They give us two weeks of extra vacation, so you can't say fairer than that.
- He offered to fix the broken window for free, and I told him you can't say fairer than that.
- The manager agreed to give everyone a full refund and a discount for next time, and honestly, you can't say fairer than that.
- If the landlord promises to lower the rent while the elevator is broken, you can't say fairer than that during such a difficult month.
- Given the generous terms of the settlement, which resolved the dispute entirely, the lawyer remarked that you can't say fairer than that.

## Origin

The phrase appears in English as a conversational formula for acknowledging a proposal as being beyond further improvement or objection. It functions as an idiom for declaring that a set of terms is entirely equitable, implying that any further attempt at negotiation would be redundant. The construction relies on the comparative *fairer* to indicate that the limit of reasonable compromise has been reached.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.