so-so

/ˈsoʊ ˈsoʊ/
adjectiveIntermediate average or mediocre
informal

of average or moderate quality; neither good nor bad

His performance in the exam was so-so.

His exam results were neither excellent nor poor.

The movie was so-so, not worth the hype.

The movie was average and did not meet expectations.

💡

Often used to express mild dissatisfaction or indifference.

Collocations

so-so performancean average or mediocre performanceso-so resultan average or mediocre outcome

Related Phrases

not badphrase
better than average
pretty goodphrase
better than average

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'so-so' to express mild dissatisfaction or indifference in casual conversations.

Gold Rule

Avoid Formal Use

'So-so' is informal and should not be used in formal writing or professional settings.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the repetition of 'so' to emphasize mediocrity.

📝Usage Notes

Commonly used in informal contexts to describe something that is neither good nor bad.

Word Breakdown

so
to a certain extent
root
+
so
to a certain extent
root
English Dictionary