0
Pter Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

When is "not bad" good and when is it bad?

0"Not bad" is a reply I commonly heard for "How are you?". I think it is the same as saying "good". However, when someone ask you what do you think about the dish he/she just cooked, "not bad" could mean "bad", right? When is "not bad" good and when is it bad? 0-
  

Top answer

1i 00not bad02i 00 is always 01i 00pretty good02i 00 but not 01i 00great02i 00. 05002br 00CJ 010id1

— CalifJim

  • 1i 00not bad02i 00 is always 01i 00pretty good02i 00 but not 01i 00great02i 00.
  • 05002br 00CJ 010id1
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
1i00not bad02i00 is always 01i00pretty good02i00 but not 01i00great02i00. 05002br
00CJ 010id1
0
0
0So, in my example of cooking, "not bad" doesn't really mean bad, but just that because he/she is expecting you to say "great", an answer of "not bad" is disappointing? 0-
0
0
0 .02br
00Yes. You might get popped with a frying pan.0-
0
0
0Ouch! It hurts! 0-
0
0
0Hi,02br
02br
00I'd say it all depends on the context, the people involved and their attitude. 02br
02br
00eg Tom's new wife cooks dinner for the first time. It tastes awful. She asks him how it is. Tom answers, 'Not bad'.02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive050010id1
0

Related Questions