fair to middling

== English == === Alternative forms === fair-to-middling, fair to middlin', fair to meddling === Etymology === From the practice of classifying agricultural commodities as fair or middling. The earliest attested instance of these descriptions being combined into the phrase fair to middling was in a British publication of 1822 but the first instance of this usage being generalised is from an American publication of 1837 === Pronunciation === === Adjective === fair to middling (not comparable) (idiomatic, usually hyphenated when placed before noun) Only tolerably good; somewhat favorable. Synonyms: adequate, OK, tolerable === References === “fair to middling”, in Collins English Dictionary.