[General] fair to middling

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expression in bold in the following sentence?

..what’s all this talk about some people being no going by birth, and others being very good by birth, and others being fair to middling by birth? (Saroyan’s “The Adventure of Wesley Jackson” chapter 74)

fair to middling = undistinguished, poor, mean, bellow par

Thank you for your efforts.

Regards,

V

 

[Rover_KE]

'...fair to middling' means average.

 

[vil]

Hi Rover KE,

I am in full agreement with your interpretation of the phrase "fair to middling", but for my standard and view it is equivalent of "bellow the mark";-)

Certainly, I appreciate high your exactness of utterance.

Thank you for your kindness.

V.

 

[birdeen's call]

Hi, vil.

I think you mean "below", not "bellow"? I'd think it was a typo but you spelled it so twice.

 

[vil]

Hi birdeen's call,

Thank you for well-founded correction. That is funny indeed. It turned out that I am a great "sinner". ;-)

Thank you again for your kindness.

V.