I was taught it referred to cotton grades when I was young.

A common phrase here in Texas.

I use it, but I don't hear it too often in Utah.

I always thought it was "fair to Midland".
Maybe a Texas thing, dunno.

Millennial version is "Faire to Middle Earth"

I was taught it referred to livestock grades.
However the local sale barns use the official USDA system now I think.

Pretty common term around here mostly in greetings now.
How you been Joe? Oh, fair to middlin' I reckon.

I've used that expression often especially when responding to queries about how I'm doing. The other response option I use is "same ol', same 'ol'."

It may be more familiar to my generation that younger ones.

You still hear it alot here in parts of Florida

I was taught it as part of the cotton grading system when I was in High School Agriculture in the '70's. Very common in rural areas that grew cotton when I was growing up. ( AZ and OK )

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:
I always thought it was "fair to Midland".
Maybe a Texas thing, dunno.

Never been to Texas and I use midland quite often had no idea it was actually middling.

Yup. One of many that will garner me a strange look or two upon its use. Again, heard from parents & grandparents.

Fair to middlin heard and have used the phrase

Grew up with it but don't hear it as much anymore.

Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBmTYGJY0EI

In his autobiography "Cash by Johnny Cash", he describes "fair to middlin" as one of the grades of cotton.

Yep, use it down here in Cajun Country

I have used it and many others. It seems people even 10-15 years younger than me have never heard of these sayings. We lose more and more of our older sayings every day. I guess that is just the way the cookie crumbles.

Hear it often here.

Now....”you betcha” not so much.

quote:

Originally posted by patw:
I have used it and many others. It seems people even 10-15 years younger than me have never heard of these sayings. We lose more and more of our older sayings every day. I guess that is just the way the cookie crumbles.

Yass, after this thread started I tried 'fair to middlin' (no g) on the y'ung uns at the general stores, ice houses, and what-not shops. Mostly got blank stares. I am familiar with the phrase as it relates to cotton but my understanding is that the connotation is something like 'not failing, not succeeding'. I guess the more recent equivelient would something like 'stayin' alive'.

The old man used it regularly but not exclusively. He grew up all over so nothing regional about him. I've always said it.

He was his own kind of odd duck. A friend said "I saw your dad downtown. I asked how are you doing, Mr. B?"

The old man - "Adequately if not famously".

My Mom uses this phrase , she's 83.
I've never heard it otherwise.