Etymology Journal ยท N
Not too shabby
Meaning
- When you see something that exceeds your expectations, you might say this. It is a lighthearted way to express approval for a job well done.
Casual, approving
Used in a sentence
- You built this deck by yourself? Not too shabby.
- That is a pretty fancy promotion you landed, not too shabby.
- I finished the project three days early, which is not too shabby.
The backstory
The term shabby has long referred to being worn out or poorly made. By adding the negative in front, the phrase becomes a clever way to say something is actually quite impressive.
Heard in
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