Cool MateFair vs Not great not terrible
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fair
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
Not great not terrible
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Fair
| Fair | Not great not terrible | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/feə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ɡreɪt nɒt ˈtɛrɪbəl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ɡreɪt nɑt ˈtɛrəbəl// |
| Meaning | Treating everyone equally and justly. | It's okay, neither good nor bad. |
| Example | The decision was fair and just for everyone involved. | The movie was not great, not terrible; just what I expected. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly 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 terrible experience, not great not terrible day, not great not terrible review |
| 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'. | Used in overly formal situations., Misunderstood as purely negative., Confused with similar phrases like 'meh'. |
| 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. | Use this phrase in casual conversations to express a mixed or average opinion. It's informal and may not be suitable for formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fair vs Not great not terrible
What's the difference between Fair and Not great not terrible?
Fair: Treating everyone equally and justly. Not great not terrible: It's okay, neither good nor bad.
Which is more common: Fair and Not great not terrible?
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 not terrible: The movie was not great, not terrible; just what I expected.
Can I use Fair and Not great not terrible interchangeably?
Not always. Fair and Not great not terrible 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.