"That's fine."

How do you interpret "That's fine"

[SilverLining]

Lately I have noticed that people often answer questions with "That's fine"... I only use these words if I don't feel up to something. It seems to indicate that the person is doing one a favour. The worst is when you ask someone how they are and they answer with "fine". How do you interpret this or am I being over analytical?

[eelixduppy]

Generally I think that when you ask someone how they are, it isn't an original response, but rather something they say over and over again. You don't even get enthusiasm with it. No matter how someone responds to me asking how they are, I don't really pay attention, because my asking was also spurred by instinct and no thought was actually put into it.

If this makes no sense don't re-read it; it wasn't you, it was me. ;)

[rocknbil]

IMO (sorry trillian :-) ) "That's Fine" is an open-ended dig, it means "well, it doesn't really meet up to my high standards, but since I'm raking you over the coals and getting it at half price, it will have to do." Not abrasive enough to merit a retort, which is one way people begin to chip away at you and talk you down, with subtle digs.

Less frequently, it means "well that will work, but it is not how I, in all my maginficence, would do it." :-)

"Fine" by itself depends on how it's stated, but I've never found it to be good, unless you've cornered someone into not taking advantage of you and they don't have a better answer. Most of the time it means "fine, have it your way, you stupid rotten jack-a**." Others it's just "fine, I have no more patience for you."

My pet peeve is "whatever." I think we all know this one, particularly if you have teenage kids in the house. A great way to break it:

"You're old enough. If you want money, get a job."
"WhatEVer."
"Okay, FINE, you lose your Internet privileges now too. See how that works? I pay for stuff you use for free, give me your 'whatever' and you begin to lose that privilege too."

:-)

[bhonda]

Agreed Rocknbil!

But I think it means the opposite when someone replies with 'I'm fine' when you ask them how they are.

I'm been told it stands for (and I apologise...I hate things like this, but has to be said!) Feeling inadequate needing encouragement.

When someone replies with 'I'm fine' it tells me something's up...probably more so than if someone breaks down and cries!

B

[PhraSEOlogy]

Ive been told that "fine" means:

F*****up Insecure Neurotic Egotistical

But that could simply be an accurate definition of me.

[Quadrille]

When I say 'That's fine', I mean 'That's fine' - but I'm a little old fashioned that way.

The only way to assess the 'irony' level in a post is to read the comment in context.

"If you follow Google's guidelines, that's fine" from an honest webbie, probably means they are encouraging you to follow the guidelines. From a spammer, it probably means 'don't make me laugh"

"If you don't mind being dropped from the index, keep using white text on a white page, that's just fine" is probably sarcasm.

Context is all!

[rocknbil]

"That's just fine"

"Just" changes everything! :-)

[weeks]

It depends on the context presented by the question and situation. It's not what you want to hear after making love, but it's just fine after finishing a project that's near impossible.

[SilverLining]

If someone answers a "How are you" question with "Fine", I find it a *little* more acceptable, but answer any other question this way...

[Syzygy]

"...somebody actually complimented me on my driving today.
They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.' So that was nice."

:-)

With grateful thanks to Tommy Cooper.

[rj87uk]

LOL good one Syzygy :)

It changes once again when we say: "Daaamn fine" ;)

PS. Is "damn" a bad word in America?

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

It can depend on the tone but IMHO when a guy says, "that's fine" he generally means that's fine. When a woman says, "that's fine", she means the exact opposite ;)

[AWildman]

Depends on how it is said. If someone just says it without any hesitation, it probably means whatever is okay but not great. If however they pull out the "that's....fine", with the gratuitious pause in the middle and an exaggerated emphasis on the "fine", it most definitely is NOT fine. That is my favorite "that's fine" to use on my coworkers! :)

[mondine]

I believe that it entirely depends upon the context.
As a reply to "how are you", it generally means "I know you don't really care, so here, I've fulfilled my end of the empty social formality, so let's get on with it".
In this case, the phrase is quite benign, and saves rather a lot of time and effort.

If someone asks me if something is permissible, I may say "that's fine".
In this case, I mean "that's fine". If someone takes this as having some hidden meaning, that's fine, too.

In any case, the term "whatever" is an insult, and entirely warrants a stern "as if...".

[Essex_boy]

Depends on how its said.

[SilverLining]

Depends on how its said

Essex_boy, fine...

:)

[jtara]

Depends on how its said.

Nice. :)

(Another one that depends on how it's said: "nice". Usually a dig, but sometimes actually means "nice". The longer it's drawn-out, the more likely it is the actually mean "nice". Put "oh" in front of it, and it's almost never "nice".)