Cool MateFair vs Not great but not horrifying
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fair
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Not great but not horrifying
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Fair
| Fair | Not great but not horrifying | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/feə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt greɪt bʌt nɒt ˈhɔːrɪfaɪɪŋ//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɡreɪt bət nɑt ˈhɔrɪfaɪɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Treating everyone equally and justly. | Not very good, but also not really bad. |
| Example | The decision was fair and just for everyone involved. | The movie was not great but not horrifying; it had some funny moments. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, make something, scrupulously, very, absolutely, to be fair, to, be, seem, make something, scrupulously, very, absolutely, to be fair, to | not great, not horrifying, average quality, somewhat acceptable, mediocre experience |
| Antonyms | unfair, biased, inequitable | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'fare', which refers to the cost of a ticket., Using 'fair' when meaning 'light-skinned', instead of using 'fair-skinned'. | Using 'horrifying' instead of 'bad' in other contexts., Forgetting to include 'great' and 'horrifying' correctly., Using the phrase in overly formal situations. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fair' to describe situations or actions that are just and equitable. It's appropriate in most contexts including discussions about justice, games, and competitions. Avoid using it in overly formal or legal contexts where 'equitable' might be better. | This expression is often used informally to give a balanced opinion when something is average. It can be suitable for various contexts including casual conversations and informal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fair vs Not great but not horrifying
What's the difference between Fair and Not great but not horrifying?
Fair: Treating everyone equally and justly. Not great but not horrifying: Not very good, but also not really bad.
Which is more common: Fair and Not great but not horrifying?
Fair is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Fair: The decision was fair and just for everyone involved. Not great but not horrifying: The movie was not great but not horrifying; it had some funny moments.
Can I use Fair and Not great but not horrifying interchangeably?
Not always. Fair and Not great but not horrifying are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.