all very well/fine but...

all very fine

Acceptable, with room for improvement. It's all very fine to go to the gym, but you need to change your diet too if you want to improve your overall health. Putting money in your savings account is all very fine, but you need to start thinking about investing money too—you're not getting any younger! It's all very fine to encourage me to move out of my parents' house, but who is going to pay my rent? Certainly not you!

See also: all, fine, very

all very well

Acceptable, with room for improvement. It's all very well to go to the gym, but you need to change your diet too if you want to improve your overall health. It's all very well to put money in your savings account, but you need to start thinking about investing money too—you're not getting any younger! It's all very well to encourage me to move out of my parents' house, but who is going to pay my rent? Certainly not you!

See also: all, very, well

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ˌall very ˈwell/ˈfine (for somebody) (to do something) but...

(informal) used to criticize or reject a remark that somebody has made, especially when they were trying to make you feel happier about something: ‘Why don’t you try to relax more?’ ‘Look, it is all very well to say that, but how can I possibly relax with four small children in the house?’

See also: all, fine, very, well

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017