Phrase guide

in fine fettle

prep_phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ɪn ˌfaɪn ˈfɛtl̩/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ɪn ˌfaɪn ˈfɛt(ə)l/
  • General-American: [-ɾ(ə)l]
  • rhymes with -ɛtəl

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

In good condition; energetic, fit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fit as a fiddle

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From in + fine (“of superior quality”) + fettle (“state of physical condition”). Fettle is derived from Late Middle English fetlen (“(verb) to bestow; to fix, prepare, put in place; to prepare (oneself) for battle, gird up; to shape; to be about to, or to ready (oneself), to stay; (adjective) shaped (well or poorly)”) [and other forms], possibly from Old English fetel (“belt, girdle, fettle”), from Proto-Germanic *fatilaz; further etymology unknown.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: frais comme l'œil — in good condition — see also fit
  • Hungarian: jó passzban — in good condition — see also fit
  • Hungarian: jó formában — in good condition — see also fit
  • Macedonian: во до́бра со́стојба (vo dóbra sóstojba) — in good condition — see also fit
  • Spanish: en plenas condiciones — in good condition — see also fit