Where did the term fair to middling come from?
Origin of Fair to Middling
This expression comes from agriculture and commerce. Farmers and merchants used a grading system to label the quality of different agricultural products. Those of the best quality were fine or good. Next came fair and middling.
What does the expression fair to middling mean?
just average
Definition of fair to middling
: just average : not especially good The food was fair to middling.
Why do people say Fair to Midland?
Mediocre, pretty good, so-so, as in I asked them how they liked their new home and John answered, “Fair to middling. This phrase, often a reply to an inquiry about one’s health, business, or the like, is redundant, since fair and middling both mean “moderately good.” [Mid-1800s] Also see can’t complain.
What does middling mean in history?
“medium in rank, condition, or degree; intermediate,” 1540s, from Middle English medlinge “intermediate between two things” (late 14c.), from middle (adj.) + present-participle suffix -ing (2). Used in trade to designate the second of three grades of goods. Hence “only medium, neither good nor bad” (1650s).
What is the origin of the term up to snuff?
The English word comes from the Dutch, who referred to such powdered tobacco as snuf, short for snuftabak, itself from snuffen, meaning “to draw forcibly through or into the nostrils; to snuff,” and tabak, meaning “tobacco.” Snuff became very popular, a habit of the fashionable and sophisticated, and people clearly …
Is it fair to midland or fair to middling?
Fair to middlin’ is just a colloquial version written in the way that the expression is often spoken, in America at least. ‘It’s middling’ – not ‘midland’. Fair to midland is an odder fish and may be a mispronunciation of ‘middling’ as ‘midland’, or it may be an unconnected expression.
Where did the phrase my bad come from?
Etymology. Pick-up basketball slang popularized (but not first coined) by Manute Bol, a basketball player of Sudanese origin playing with the Golden State Warriors, and subsequently adopted by teammates.
Where did cut the mustard originate?
Possibly derived from the idiom ‘to pass muster’, an expression for assembling military troops for inspection. A troop who has achieved excellent performance in, for example, a room inspection, is allowed to skip, or “cut” having to stand a formal muster or formation and go on liberty early, etc.
Where does the phrase Let’s get down to brass tacks mean?
informal. : to start to discuss or consider the most important details or facts about something. We finally got down to brass tacks and decided to work out a schedule for the project.
What is middling cotton?
Middling grade cotton is considered average and is used as the standard to measure all other grades of cotton. It is a fleecy cotton with very small amounts of debris and is nearly white. Fair to middling cotton is an average grade of cotton, and is the type usually used for denim.
Why do Americans say my bad?
I am apologising – that’s what ‘my bad’ means – it’s an American English phrase that we use sometimes to mean we accept responsibility for a mistake. Well, that’s good to know.
What does my bag mean?
n. one’s preference; something suited to one’s preference. That kind of stuff is so not my bag!
What does the term Bob’s your uncle mean?
Definition of and Bob’s your uncle
British, informal. —used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob’s your uncle!
What is the origin of the phrase at sixes and sevens?
It dates from the mid-1380s and seems from its context to mean “to hazard the world” or “to risk one’s life”. William Shakespeare uses a similar phrase in Richard II (around 1595), “But time will not permit: all is uneven, And every thing is left at six and seven”.
Where did kick the bucket come from?
An archaic use of bucket was a beam from which a pig is hung by its feet prior to being slaughtered, and to kick the bucket originally signified the pig’s death throes.
Where did the expression too old to cut the mustard come from?
Etymology. Probably from likening the pungency of the spice mustard as a superlative or as something that adds zest to a situation. Possibly derived from the idiom ‘to pass muster’, an expression for assembling military troops for inspection.
What is cotton +B?
Instrumental evaluation of Colour grade was established during the year 1930 by USDA on two parameters for cotton grade classification – Reflectance (Rd) and Yellowness (+b). The degree of reflectance (Rd) indicates how bright or dull the sample and the degree of yellowness (+b) indicates the colour pigmentation.
What does done me dirty mean?
To mistreat or deceive one
slang To mistreat or deceive one. I can’t believe that you’re the one who did me dirty and sabotaged my presentation! That traveling salesman sure did me dirty by running off with my money. Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
What’s up my G Meaning?
“My g” is just a term that a close friend would call another close friend. “Yo what’s up, my g?” Not used in proper English, typically between teen males.
What does not my jam mean?
phraseinformal. DEFINITIONS1. not something that someone enjoys or is interested in. I hate being scared, so Halloween isn’t really my jam. You know what’s not my jam?
What does fubar mean?
f***ed up beyond all repair
FUBAR is an acronym that originated in the military to stand for the words “f***ed up beyond all repair.” This is often softened to “fouled up beyond all repair” in reference to hardware.
Why do we say Fanny’s your aunt?
Used as a humorous response to the phrase “Bob’s your uncle,” which is used to emphasize how easily or quickly something can be done. Primarily heard in UK, Australia.
What does Fanny’s your aunt mean?
A phrase with the same meaning is ‘Fanny’s your aunt’. When used together it means complete or the whole lot. If Bob’s your uncle and Fanny’s your aunt you’ve got a full set of relatives and you are complete.
What does dressed to the nines mean origin?
Answer: The phrase “dressed to the nines” is just a specific application of the Scottish phrase “to the nine ” The earliest written evidence of this phrase appeared in the late 18th century in the poetry of Robert Burns. Its meaning is “to perfection; just right.”
What does the saying chalk and cheese mean?
When you say that two people are like ‘chalk and cheese’, you are suggesting that the two are very different from each other; they have nothing in common. The expression, which has the same meaning as ‘apples and oranges’, can be used with things as well. No one is really sure about the origin of this idiom.