good, bad, or indifferent
Having a positive, negative, or null effect. Often used to pose a question about something, especially in the titles of articles. Tax Breaks for the Wealthy to Stimulate the Economy: Good, Bad, or Indifferent? The new study investigates whether this new drug is good, bad, or indifferent when it comes to treating Alzheimer's disease. How are we feeling about tomorrow's exam—good, bad, or indifferent?
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
good, bad, or indifferent
However something or someone may be, take it/him/her as they come. The phrase appears in Laurence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy (1760–67) and is spelled out in Joel Barlow’s poem, “Hasty-Pudding” (1792): “E’en Hasty Pudding, purest of all food, May still be bad, indifferent, or good.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer