Mediocre, pretty good, so-so, as in I asked them how they liked their new home and John answered, "Fair to middling. This phrase, often a reply to an inquiry about one's health, business, or the like, is redundant, since fair and middling both mean "moderately good." [Mid-1800s] Also see can't complain.

What does the term fairly middling mean?

: just average : not especially good The food was fair to middling.

What does middling mean in history?

1 : of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality. 2 : mediocre, second-rate. 3 : of, relating to, or being a middle class.