- To be in excellent physical health; very healthy and strong.
Explanation
Origin
- Dates back to the 1600s in England.
- The comparison is likely because a fiddle (violin) must be kept in good condition, well-tuned, and handled properly to produce good music.
- A well-maintained instrument is fit (suitable, in good order) for its purpose.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Ripped / Jacked / Buff (Muscular, physically fit focuses on appearance)
- In top form.
- Feeling like a million bucks. (Feeling great, not necessarily just physical health)
Milder/Standard:
- Very healthy.
- In excellent condition.
- Physically well.
Situational Appropriateness
- Mostly informal, but understood in most contexts.
- Might sound a bit quaint or folksy in very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The comparison to a musical instrument might be confusing.
- Explain it's simply an old idiom for being very healthy.
Examples
- My grandmother is 90, but she's still fit as a fiddle.
- He recovered quickly from the surgery and is now fit as a fiddle.
- After months of training, she was fit as a fiddle for the marathon.
Dialogue
Doctor: So, how have you been feeling since your check-up last year?
Patient: Fantastic, Doc! Fit as a fiddle, thanks to your advice.
Doctor: Excellent! Keep up the good work.
Social Media Examples
- Facebook post: Visited Grandpa today he's 88 and still fit as a fiddle! Mowed the lawn this morning! ❤️ #Family #HealthyAging
- Instagram caption: Back on the trails after recovering from that cold. Feeling fit as a fiddle! 💪 #Hiking #Health
- Tweet: Good news! Test results are back and I'm fit as a fiddle. Time to celebrate!
Response Patterns
- That's great to hear!
- Wow, good for him/her!
- I wish I felt that way!
- What's their secret?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After positive reaction (That's great!):
- Might lead to sharing more details about the person's health or activities. Yes, she still goes for walks every day.
After asking for the secret (What's their secret?):
- Could lead to discussing lifestyle, diet, exercise, etc. Well, she eats healthy and stays active.
Conversation Starter
- No. Typically used to describe someone's health, often in response to an inquiry like How's your grandfather?
Intonation
- Usually said with a positive, somewhat bright tone.
- Stress on FIT and FIDDLE.
- FIT as a FIDDLE.
Generation Differences
- Understood by all, but perhaps used more often by middle-aged and older generations.
- Younger people might prefer in great shape.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions, perhaps slightly more prevalent in UK/Commonwealth English.