fine
adjective /faɪn/
/faɪn/
(comparative finer, superlative finest)
Idioms - (of a person) in good health
- ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
- I was feeling fine when I got up this morning.
- ‘How’s your throat?’ ‘It’s fine as long as I don’t cough.’
Synonyms wellwell- all right
- OK
- fine
- healthy
- strong
- fit
- well [not usually before noun] (rather informal) in good health:
- I’m not feeling very well.
- Is he well enough to travel?
- all right [not before noun] (rather informal) not feeling ill; not injured:
- Are you feeling all right?
- OK [not before noun] (informal) not feeling ill; not injured:
- She says she’s OK now, and will be back at work tomorrow.
- fine [not before noun] (not used in negative statements) (rather informal) completely well:
- ‘How are you?’ ‘Fine, thanks.’
- healthy in good health and not likely to become ill:
- Keep healthy by exercising regularly.
- strong in good health and not suffering from an illness:
- After a few weeks she was feeling stronger.
- fit (especially British English) in good physical health, especially because you take regular physical exercise:
- I go swimming every day in order to keep fit.
- all right/OK/fit for something
- all right/OK/fit to do something
- to feel/look well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/strong/fit
- to keep (somebody) well/healthy/fit
- perfectly well/all right/OK/fine/healthy/fit
- physically well/healthy/strong/fit
Extra Examples- George looks fine now.
- I feel absolutely fine.
- She was absolutely fine throughout the pregnancy.
Oxford Collocations DictionaryverbsTopics Health and Fitnessa1- be
- feel
- look
- …
- absolutely
- completely
- physically
- …
- [usually before noun] of high quality; good
- a very fine performance
- fine clothes/wines/workmanship
- It's a particularly fine example of Saxon architecture.
- the finest collection of paintings in Europe
- She's a fine actor and an even finer dancer.
- Jim has made a fine job of the garden.
- people who enjoy the finer things in life (= for example art, good food, etc.)
- It was his finest hour (= most successful period) as manager of the England team.
- This movie features some of her finest work.
- He tried to appeal to their finer feelings (= feelings of duty, love, etc.)
Extra Examples- He has done an exceptionally fine job of reorganizing things.
- He was a fine man and a fine soldier.
- It was a fine example of leadership.
- They enjoy good food and fine wines.
- Some of Groucho's finest moments occur in the out-takes.
- (also used as an exclamation) used to tell somebody that an action, a suggestion or a decision is acceptable
- ‘I'll leave this here, OK?’ ‘Fine.’
- fine by somebody ‘Bob wants to know if he can come too.’ ‘That's fine by me.’
- fine with somebody If you don't agree, that's fine with him.
- fine with something She has been virtually ignoring me but I'm fine with that.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- absolutely
- completely
- just
- …
- for
- used to say you are satisfied with something
- Don't worry. Your speech was fine.
- Other than a few damp spots, the place looked fine.
- to sound/seem fine
- You go on without me. I'll be fine.
- ‘Can I get you another drink?’ ‘No, thanks. I'm fine.’
- Never mind, Jake. Everything will be just fine.
- Your hair is perfectly fine the way it is.
- fine for something This paper's not very good quality, but it's fine for rough work.
- (ironic) You're a fine one to talk! (= you are not in a position to criticize, give advice, etc.)
- (ironic) This is a fine (= terrible) mess we're in!
Extra Examples- I knew that everything would turn out fine in the end.
- Your speech was absolutely fine.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- look
- seem
- …
- absolutely
- completely
- just
- …
- for
- (especially British English) bright and not raining
- a fine day/evening
- I hope it stays fine for the picnic.
- It was a fine sunny morning.
- That summer saw weeks of fine dry weather.
Extra ExamplesTopics Weatherb1- It's turned out fine again today.
- Let's hope it stays fine for the wedding this afternoon.
- The next morning turned out fine again.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- turn out
- keep
- …
- [usually before noun] pleasant to look at
- a fine view
- a fine-looking woman
- a fine figure of a man
- (informal, especially North American English) The boy looks mighty fine in a uniform.
- made of very small grains
- fine sand
- Use a finer piece of sandpaper to finish.
- The top 8 inches of earth is very fine, made up of river sediment.
- Dip in beaten egg then fine dry breadcrumbs before frying in olive oil.
opposite coarse - [usually before noun] attractive and small or thin
- fine bone china
- She has inherited her mother's fine features (= a small nose, mouth, etc.).
- very thin or narrow; made of very thin or narrow wires or threads
- His fine blond hair came down almost to his shoulders.
- a fine thread
- I need a brush with a fine tip.
- a fine sieve/mesh
Extra Examples- Her hair is very fine.
- Acupuncture uses fine needles inserted into the patient's skin.
- You could see the sweat in the fine hairs above his upper lip.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- [usually before noun] difficult to see or describe synonym subtle
- You really need a magnifying glass to appreciate all the fine detail.
- There's no need to make such fine distinctions.
- There's a fine line between love and hate (= it is easy for one to become the other).
- We still have to iron out the finer details.
- [only before noun] that you have a lot of respect for
- He was a fine man.
- sounding important and impressive but unlikely to have any effect
- His speech was full of fine words which meant nothing.
- (specialist) containing only a particular metal and no other substances that reduce the quality
- fine gold
very well
very good
acceptable/good enough
weather
attractive
with small grains
attractive
very thin
detail/distinctions
person
words/speeches
metals
Word Originadjective Middle English: from Old French fin, based on Latin finire ‘to finish’, from finis ‘end’.
Idioms
chance would be a fine thing
- (British English, informal) people say chance would be a fine thing to show that they would like to do or have the thing that somebody has mentioned, but that they do not think that it is very likely
the finer points of something
- the more complicated or detailed aspects of something
- She seems at ease discussing the finer points of foreign policy.
- He learnt the finer points of cricket during a trip to London.
in fine/good fettle
- (old-fashioned, informal) healthy; in good condition
- The team is in fine fettle.
- Park Foods is in fine fettle after selling off all non-core businesses.
not to put too fine a point on it
- used to emphasize something that is expressed clearly and directly, especially a criticism
- Not to put too fine a point on it, I think you are lying.
walk/tread a fine/thin line (between A and B)
- to be in a difficult or dangerous situation where you could easily make a mistake
- He was walking a fine line between being funny and being rude.
- She often seems to tread a thin line between success and failure.
Extra Examples- His comedy treads the line between shocking and sickening.
- We have to walk a fine line to make sure we don't promote one brand more than another.
- His buildings walk the thin line between visionary and completely mad.