John: How are things going, Fred? Fred: Things could be better. And you? John: About the same.
•Bob: Hi, Bill! How are you? Bill: I could be better. What's new with you? Bob: Nothing much.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
Oh The Things Mommies Do! What Could Be Better Than Having Two? — Author(s) Crystal Tompkins … Wikipedia
better — adj Better, superior, preferable mean more worthy or more pleasing than another or others. Better, which often serves as the comparative of good, in this sense implies a quality or character in a person or thing that surpasses or exceeds that in… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
Better — Bet ter, adv.; compar. of {Well}. 1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes better than John; veterans fight better than recruits. [1913 Webster] I could have… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
better — 1 adjective (comparative of good) 1 more useful, interesting, satisfactory, effective, suitable etc: Your stereo is better than mine. | a better job with a better salary | It was one of the better Broadway shows I ve seen. | There must be a… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
better — 1. adjective 1) better facilities Syn: superior, finer, of higher quality; preferable; informal a cut above, head and shoulders above, ahead of the pack/field Ant: worse, inferior 2) there couldn t be a better time Syn … Thesaurus of popular words
better — 1. adjective 1) better facilities Syn: superior, finer, of higher quality, preferable; informal a cut above, streets ahead, head and shoulders above, ahead of the pack/field 2) there couldn t be a better time Syn: more advantageous, m … Synonyms and antonyms dictionary
could — /kʊd / (say kood), weak form /kəd/ (say kuhd) verb (modal) 1. past tense of can1: he could speak Chinese; I couldn t help overhearing; they said we could go. 2. (referring to a potential event or situation): you could do it if you tried; her… …
could — W1S1 [kəd strong kud] modal v negative short form couldn t ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(past ability)¦ 2¦(possibility)¦ 3¦(emphasizing your feelings)¦ 4¦(requesting)¦ 5¦(suggesting)¦ 6¦(annoyance)¦ 7 couldn t be better/worse/more pleased etc 8 I couldn t … Dictionary of contemporary English
could — [ weak kəd, strong kud ] modal verb *** Could is usually followed by an infinitive without to : I m glad you could come. Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: I came as quickly as I could. Could does not change its form, so the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Better — Bet ter, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Better half — Better Bet ter, a.; compar. of Good. [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv. bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj., betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G. besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
