Idioms

fettle

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be in fine fettle

To be in good physical or mental health. A: "I heard you had the flu last week, so how are you feeling now?" B: "I'm finally back in fine fettle, thank goodness!" I was in fine fettle for a while, but now that school is over I'm feeling pretty sad. I'm too sleep deprived these days to be in fine fettle.
See also: fettle, fine

in fine fettle

In good physical or mental health. A: "I heard you had the flu last week, so how are you feeling now?" B: "I'm finally back in fine fettle, thank goodness!" I had been in fine fettle for a while, but now that school is over I'm feeling pretty sad. Yeah, the breakup did really hit me hard, and it took time to recover. But, don't worry, I'm in fine fettle now.
See also: fettle, fine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in fine fettle

INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONED
If someone or something is in fine fettle, they are in very good health or condition. You seem in fine fettle. Helped by low interest rates, the banks are in fine fettle.
See also: fettle, fine
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

in fine fettle

in very good condition.
Fettle was recorded in a mid 18th-century glossary of Lancashire dialect as meaning ‘dress, case, condition’. It is now seldom found outside this phrase and its variants, which include in good fettle and in high fettle .
See also: fettle, fine
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

in fine/good ˈfettle

(old-fashioned, informal) healthy and cheerful: After ten hours’ sleep and a good long run, I was in fine fettle. OPPOSITE: be, feel, etc. out of sorts
See also: fettle, fine, good
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

fine fettle, in

In excellent condition. This expression comes from the old dialect verb “to fettle,” which meant to put right. It was first put as “in good fettle,” and was so used throughout the nineteenth century. Alliteration has helped it to survive.
See also: fine
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
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References in periodicals archive
For the team at Fettle Animation it's a step back into their love of comedy.
It's been a wet July and August but the track is in good fettle. We've not raced since August 2nd.
Fettle's producer Kath Shackleton said: "We wanted to chose six plays that would resonate with young audiences and present them in a contemporary and engaging way.
STOCKTON: A Fusion cafe event for people with memory problems and their carers will feature entertainment duo Best of Fettle on Friday from 2pm.
Fitzgerald reports the eight-year-old to be in fine fettle ahead of the stamina test as he aims to turn around Nottingham form, having finished ninth behind cup rivals Double Banded and Tilt on his reappearance last month.
"He's had absolutely no setback and the horse is in absolutely terrific fettle but he won't be running this year," said Morris.
The five-year-old (pictured above), winner of seven Group One contests, was reported to be in fine fettle and on schedule for her career finale in the Hong Kong Vase ( a race she won 12 months ago ( in Sha Tin on December 10.
LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO and Will Greenwood were in fine fettle as the former argued in favour of the School of Hard Knocks and the latter for a university education at Jason Leonard's testimonial dinner on Wednesday.
The More Than Ready filly - ridden by Frankie Dettori - looked in fine fettle as she bowled past her companion inside the closing stages of their spin.
'He's in hellish fettle. The lads say he is in brilliant form, but I've got a real puzzle with him,' he said.
With veteran singer Ali Campbell and friends in fine fettle, the band played a top class set that consolidated their position as the UK's leading pop/reggae artists.
MARSDEN animation group Fettle has scooped another international gong.
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