fair-to-middling
Nothing to celebrate
Fair-to-middling means moderately good but not outstanding—acceptable without being impressive.
The expression comes from cotton grading, where "middling" and "fair" were middle-tier quality ratings.
Now it typically answers "How are you?" with studied understatement: How's business? Oh, fair-to-middling.
The hyphenated form suggests the phrase has solidified into a single modifier.
Indifferently average quality
- tolerableAble to be endured
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- decentAcceptably good
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
acceptable · sufficient · serviceable · okay · all right · not bad · reasonable · competent
Standard, unremarkable
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- averageArithmetic mean or ordinary
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
- standardLevel of quality accepted
normal · run-of-the-mill · garden-variety · plain · vanilla · conventional · typical · undistinguished
Lacking interest or concern
- lacklusterLacking brilliance or vitality
- unspectacularLacking any notable qualities
- tepidMildly warm, lacking intensity
- half-heartedLacking sincerity or zeal
unenthusiastic · muted · subdued · underwhelming · modest · uninspiring · flat · tame
so-so
Indifferently average quality
passable · acceptable · sufficient · serviceable · okay · all right · not bad · reasonable · competent · satisfactory
ordinary
Standard, unremarkable
- commonplaceUnremarkable and frequent
- averageArithmetic mean or ordinary
- unremarkableNot worthy of comment
standard · normal · run-of-the-mill · garden-variety · plain · vanilla · conventional · typical · undistinguished · nondescript
indifferent
Lacking interest or concern
- lacklusterLacking brilliance or vitality
- unspectacularLacking any notable qualities
- tepidMildly warm, lacking intensity
half-hearted · unenthusiastic · muted · subdued · underwhelming · modest · uninspiring · flat · tame · wishy-washy
fair-to-middlingexceptional
Notably above the norm
outstanding · excellent · terrible · awful · superb
fair, middle, fairly, fairness, fairer, fairest, unfair, unfairly, unfairness