G'day

[0021] I'm good, thanks

🎲 I'm fine
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A common and polite response to questions like How are you?, How's it going?, or You alright?.
  • Indicates that you are well or okay. Includes thanks to acknowledge the asker's politeness.

Origin

  • Standard polite English response construction.
  • Good used idiomatically to mean well or fine.
  • Adding thanks is a standard politeness marker in response to an inquiry about one's well-being.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • I'm fine, thank you. (Slightly more formal)
  • Doing well, thanks.
  • Alright, thanks. (UK common)
  • Can't complain. (Implies things are satisfactory)
  • Not bad, thanks.
  • Pretty good, thanks.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • All good.
  • Chillin'.
  • Living the dream. (Often sarcastic)
  • Same old, same old.

Milder/Standard:

  • I'm well, thank you. (Grammatically more standard for health, but 'good' is very common)
  • Fine, thanks.

Declining an offer specifically:

  • No thanks, I'm alright.
  • I'm okay, thank you.
  • I'm set, thanks.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Widely appropriate in most situations, from informal to semi-formal.
  • In very formal settings, I'm very well, thank you might be preferred by some.
  • Note the grammatical point: traditionally, well is the adverb describing health/state, while good is an adjective. However, I'm good is overwhelmingly common and accepted in modern usage as a response to How are you?.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Low risk. Meaning is clear.
  • Potential confusion if used to decline something versus answering How are you?. Context usually makes it clear. Example: Want a drink? -> I'm good, thanks (means No thanks) vs. How are you? -> I'm good, thanks (means I am well).

Examples

  • Hi Tom, how are you? I'm good, thanks. How about you?
  • Need any help with that? No, I'm good, thanks. (Here meaning I don't need anything)

Dialogue

Cashier: Hi there, how are you today?

Customer: I'm good, thanks. Just grabbing a few things.

Cashier: Great. Find everything okay?

Customer: Yep!

Social Media Examples

  • Comment reply: Q: Hope you're doing okay! A: I'm good, thanks for asking! Hope you are too.
  • Response in a group chat check-in: How's everyone's week going? -> I'm good, thanks! Busy but productive.

Response Patterns

  • The person who asked often responds with their own state (I'm good too, thanks) or moves on with the conversation.
  • If this phrase is used to decline help, the asker usually accepts (Okay, let me know if you change your mind.).

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Very commonly followed by reciprocating the question: And you?, How about you?, You?
  • The conversation then typically proceeds to the reason for the interaction or small talk.
  • If used to decline help/offer, the asker usually stops offering.

Conversation Starter

  • No. This is exclusively a response to a question or offer.

Intonation

  • Generally spoken with a neutral to positive tone.
  • Slight stress often on good. I'm GOOD, thanks.
  • A slight pause might occur before thanks.
  • Often followed by rising intonation if reciprocating the question (...How about you?).

Generation Differences

  • Used commonly across all generations. The I'm good vs I'm well debate might be more noted by older, more grammatically prescriptive individuals.

Regional Variations

  • Standard and common in all major English-speaking regions (US, UK, Canada, Aus, NZ, etc.).
G'day
🎲 I'm fine