What does the idiom "So far so good" mean?

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does So far so good mean? In what situations is So far so good used?

Meaning of "So far so good"

Meaning

So far so good is an idiomatic phrase that is used to informally express the fact that things have been going as expected or desired. It can be used to emphasize the relief that one feels when things have been progressing as desired in a particular situation or endeavor. It can also be used as a way to show optimism that something will continue to progress as desired in the future.

Etymology

The origins of the phrase “so far so good” are not known for certain, but it has been used in various forms since the 1500s. This phrase is believed to have originated in the British Isles, and it is first found in the book “A Treatise of Many Matters Touching the Life of Man,” which was written by an English lawyer by the name of Henry Brome in 1591. The phrase was likely a reference to the idea that things were going as good as could be expected at the time.

Usage

The phrase “so far so good” has been used in a wide variety of contexts over the centuries. In its original form, it was used to express the idea that things were going as expected or desired. However, it has since been used in various forms to express relief, optimism, and/or gratitude. For example, one might say “so far so good” after a job interview in order to express relief that it went well. Alternatively, one might say “so far so good” in order to show optimism that something will continue to progress as desired in the future.

Example Sentences

  • I've been studying for my exam for the past week, and so far so good.
  • We just started our new project, but so far so good.
  • We've been working on this project for months, and so far so good.

The meanings of the words in the "So far so good" idiom

The Global Spread of English Idioms

As English has become a global language, its idioms have spread far beyond the borders of the UK and USA. For instance, the idiom "beat around the bush" has equivalents in many other languages, such as "tourner autour du pot" in French and "dar vueltas al asunto" in Spanish. Meanwhile, other idioms have been adapted for local contexts, such as the Russian idiom "?? ???? ???????" (ne svoya rubashka), which translates to "not one's own shirt," meaning to be in an uncomfortable or unfamiliar situation.

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