Meanings
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 [1] but the first instance of this usage being generalised is from an American publication of 1837[2]
Only tolerably good; somewhat favorable.
Example Sentences
1
I asked her how she was doing, and she replied with 'fair to middling.'
2
When I asked about his new job, he said it was going 'fair to middling.'
3
Her performance in the competition was fair to middling, not outstanding but not terrible either.
4
The reviews for the movie were fair to middling; some people liked it, while others thought it was just average.
5
The restaurant received a fair to middling rating from the food critic.
