could be worse
Not entirely bad
An expression of resigned acceptance, acknowledging that a situation, while not ideal, remains tolerable.
It's often used to downplay complaints or find modest comfort in difficult circumstances: How's the new job? —Eh, could be worse.
The phrase implies comparison to imagined alternatives rather than genuine optimism.
- not badGrudging approval phrase
- manageableAble to be controlled
- tolerableAble to be endured
- okayAdequate or permitted
- fair enoughAcknowledging reasonable logic
survivable · bearable · passable · can't complain · mediocre · shrug · silver lining · glass half full · half full · optimism · coping · resigned · meh · so-so · getting by · muddling through · hanging in · still standing
- Understatementlitotes, meiosis, downplay, minimizing, undersell
- complacency phrasesgood enough, why bother, it is what it is, not my problem, whatever
- adequacyadequate, enough, sufficient, satisfactory, acceptable
- indifferenceapathy, indifference, unconcern, disinterest, nonchalance
- dullnessboring, boredom, monotony, dullness, banality
could be worsethe worst
Most inferior possible
perfect · terrible · awful · disastrous · rock bottom
could be worsecould be better
Less than satisfactory
not good enough · leaves much to be desired · disappointing · underwhelming · falling short