In fine fettle

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Meaning

In very good health, spirits or working condition. Warmly approving and slightly old-fashioned. It can describe health, mood, machinery or an organisation's condition. Regional use: British and Irish English, especially northern and dialectal use.

Origin

Fettle was a dialect and trade word for condition, order or the act of putting something in order, related to Middle English fetlen, to prepare. The noun is recorded by the 18th century. Fine fettle applies the older condition sense first to people and animals and then more broadly to things.

Variants

  • In good fettle
  • In excellent fettle
  • In rare fettle

Usage Examples

  • After a winter in the workshop, the old bicycle is in fine fettle again.
  • At ninety-two, Aunt Sal remains in remarkably good fettle.

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