(Things) could be worse.

(Things) could be worse.
(Things) could be worse. & (I) could be worse.
a response to a greeting meaning “My state is not as bad as it might be.” (Not necessarily a direct answer.) •

John: How are you, Fred? Fred: Things could be worse. And you? John: Okay, I guess.

Bob: Hi, Bob! What's happening? Bob: I could be worse. What's new with you?


Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • worse — worse1 [ wɜrs ] adjective *** more unpleasant or bad than something else or than before: worse than: The injury looked a lot worse than it really was. get worse: Our performance got worse as the game went on. worse and worse: The company s… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • worse — 1 adjective 1 (the comparative of bad) not as good as someone or something else, or more unpleasant or of a lower standard: The meal couldn t have been much worse. | worse than: The weather was worse than last year. | there s nothing worse than… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • worse — I UK [wɜː(r)s] / US [wɜrs] adjective *** a) more unpleasant or bad than something else or than before Some said they d never seen a worse film. get worse: Our performance got worse as the game went on. worse than: The injury looked a lot worse… …   English dictionary

  • worse — worse1 [wə:s US wə:rs] adj [: Old English; Origin: wiersa, wyrsa] 1.) [the comparative of bad] more unpleasant, bad, or severe →↑better worse than ▪ The violence was worse than we expected. ▪ The traffic is much worse after five o clock. ▪ The… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • worse — [[t]wɜ͟ː(r)s[/t]] 1) Worse is the comparative of bad. 2) Worse is the comparative of badly. 3) Worse is used to form the comparative of compound adjectives beginning with bad and badly. For example, the comparative of badly off is worse off . 4)… …   English dictionary

  • could — strong /kUd/ modal verb 3rd person singular couldnegative short form couldn t 1 the past tense of can : Could you hear that all right? | I couldn t get tickets after all, they were sold out. | Marcia said we could smoke, it was okay with her. see …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

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