what's better: fair or middlin'?
 

water cooler conversation with no resolution. When asked how someone is, a typical answer is, "fair to middlin'". What we couldn't agree on was whether fair was better than middlin' or the other way around.

fair > middlin

+1

oooo doggie! > fair

Found in John Mortimer's farming handbook The Whole Art of Husbandry, 1707:

As you gather your Fruit, separate the fairest and biggest from the middling.


That's all I know.

so I guess when people say that they are going from a point that is acceptable to a position of mediocrity?

My analysis was that if you have a 3 level granularity (poor, fair, good) then middlin' should be equivalent to fair. If you have a 4 level granularity (poor, fair, good, great) then middlin' would be better than fair. If you have bipolar granluarity like me (bad, worse) then middlin' is actually pretty damn good. :D

That depends. Are you fine, or dandy?

(With apologies to George Carlin.)

Bipolar granularity is better than Singular granularity - sh-tty.

I say I'm doing "Swell" or "Peachy Keen"

I suspect from some of the responses there is a general shift in the perception or application of the term "fair".

I believe the term started out meaning "good" or "pleasing".

We talk about fair weather, or a fair decision. What about a woman being "the fairest of the fair"?

Seen in that light, "fair" would be above "middlin"

Interesting how usage changes. In days long ago, "a gay man with a ******", would refer to a happy individual with a bundle of sticks.

Best
Les

As proof of what I said, the term is now disallowed by the 'dirty word filter' . The word was: f-a-g-g-o-t.

I actually say, "I'm just ducky" but no one seems to get that one.

The play is "My Fair Lady."

Not "My Middlin' Lady."

Just saying.

I use "just ducky" alot..........usually with a heavy dose of sarcasm.
But really it's just water off a ducks azz..................

How far is Yonder??

About .8 of a mile from here.

I'm not unwell thank you!

Two beers and a couple of Marlboro's

Doin middlin is better than doin fair.