Where did the expression fair to midland come from?

Where did the expression fair to midland come from?

Origin of Fair to Middling This expression comes from agriculture and commerce. Farmers and merchants used a grading system to label the quality of different agricultural products. Those of the best quality were fine or good. Next came fair and middling.

What does the old saying Fair to Midland mean?

Definition of fair to middling : just average : not especially good The food was fair to middling.

What does the Midland mean?

Definition of middling (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : of middle, medium, or moderate size, degree, or quality. 2 : mediocre, second-rate. 3 : of, relating to, or being a middle class.

Is Fair to Midland still together?

Sulphur Springs, Texas, U.S. Fair to Midland was an American progressive rock band based in Texas. Tentative plans for a fifth album had been discussed at the end of the Arrow and Anchors touring cycle, but the band became inactive in 2013.

What does middling meat mean?

Chiefly Southern U.S. Pork or bacon cut from between the ham and shoulder of a pig. Often used in the plural. ( Chiefly Southern U.S. Salt pork. Also called middling meat. ( Any of various products, such as partially refined petroleum or ore, that are intermediate in quality, size, price, or grade. (

Is Midland a noun?

midland (noun) Midland (proper noun)

What is the highest grade cotton?

Supima | The best cotton in the world

• Supima (which stands for Superior pima) is the crème de la crème of all cottons.
• Strength & Durability- The typical fiber length of regular cotton is 1 inch whereas Supima is about 1.5 inches, thus making Supima cotton twice as strong compared to regular cotton.

What is the meaning of fair to Midland?

With an initial capital letter, fair to Midland is a Texas version of the phrase, a joke on the name of the city of Midland in that state. A Texas rock band called themselves Fair to Midland after what they described as “an old Texan play on the term ‘fair to middling’”.

What is the origin of the phrase ‘fair to middling’?

Since “fair” and “middling” here mean the same thing—that is, pretty good or mediocre—the expression is basically jocular. It originated in the mid-nineteenth century, probably in America. An early citation in the OED is from Artemus Ward’s His Travels (“The men are fair to middling,” 1865). See also can’t complain.

What does middling fair mean in cotton?

Fair and middling were terms in the cotton business for specific grades — the sequence ran from the best quality (fine), through good, fair, middling and ordinary to the least good (inferior), with a number of intermediates, one being middling fair.

Why is Midland called Middlin’ Midland?

As cotton declined and oil ascended in importance, and because of the way we Texans talk, “middlin’” eased over into Midland. The etymology is partially because of an old West Texas joke: some west Texans would tell you “it’s fair to Midland and partly cloudy to Odessa.” (Odessa being the gritty, smoky refinery town.)