Would you like to give someone a positive progress report, or say a good word about how something is going to everyone else? The phrase 'so far so good' can be used to indicate good progress, and it's a common phrase that's often used as a whole. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The phrase 'so far so good' can be used to tell someone that so far a project is going well, or so far progress is good.
The phrase is used as an indicative phrase or statement directed at the rest of the conversation.
Usually the phrase 'so far so good' is used as a response to someone else asking for a progress report about something. The context is usually clear from the rest of what's being said.
If something is 'so far so good' then it is assumed that everything is going well.
As a rare use of the phrase, someone can also use the term 'so far so good' as a sarcastic phrase that indicates that things are not going well.
The sarcastic or serious context of what's being said can usually be determined from the rest of the sentence.
The phrase 'so far so good' is common as a response, but it can also be said without any prior context or question from anyone else in the conversation if the issue is apparent.
Punctuation of the phrase can include 'so far, so good' or without commas, both usages are considered valid.
Example Usage
“I just enrolled to university and I think I'll get in. At least I managed to send the email, and I'm sure I didn't make any serious mistakes. So far so good.”
“If you didn't get into university this time, then I would just apply to another one. I've found a list of five others here, and it's so far so good.”
“If things are so far so good, how come you didn't plug in the computer before you told me you sent the email?”
“Things are so far so good, we've already managed to catch three boots. I'm sure that a bicycle or a fish is going to come up out of this river next.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase 'so far so good' was first apparent in the 1700s, when the phrase was collected in James Kelly's Scottish Proverbs.
The collection of proverbs included several hundred ones that were absorbed into the popular speech of the times, and most of them became ever-popular well into the modern age.
'So far so good' has been absorbed into popular culture, and references can be found in movies, books, articles and often on social media.
Phrases Similar to So Far So Good
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Phrases Opposite to So Far So Good
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What is the Correct Saying?
- [Things are going] so far so good
- So far so good
Ways People May Say So Far So Good Incorrectly
The phrase 'so far so good' can be used in the wrong way or understood in the wrong context.
The meaning of the saying can be serious or joking, but the meaning is assumed to be understood by the rest of the conversation by the speaker.
The phrase has its origin in Scottish English, where it might not translate well directly to other languages or not have a common equivalent.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase So Far So Good
The correct way to use the phrase 'so far so good' is to use it to indicate the progress of something as positive.
It is common to use the phrase 'so far so good' when someone has asked a question, but the term can also be used in the absence of anyone having asked.
The phrase can be used as serious or sarcastic, but the context is usually made clear by the rest of what's being said.