- An acknowledgement that someone's point, decision, criticism, or observation is reasonable, justified, or fair.
- Similar to That's a fair point, You're right, or I concede that.
Explanation
Origin
- Likely originated in contexts involving judgment or decisions, possibly sports umpiring (a fair call meaning a correct decision).
- Common in Australian, New Zealand, and British English. Less common, though understood, in American English.
- Call here means a judgment or decision.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- True dat. (Acknowledgement, more slangy)
- Word. (Acknowledgement)
- I feel you. / I feel that. (Expressing understanding/agreement with the sentiment)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Less common for simply conceding a point, more for strong agreement):
- Damn right. (Stronger agreement than just 'fair')
Milder/Standard/Formal:
- That's a valid point.
- I concede the point.
- Your reasoning is sound.
- Acknowledged.
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to neutral.
- Common in discussions, debates, or everyday conversations where opinions or decisions are exchanged.
- Acceptable in most work environments, especially in Australia, NZ, and the UK.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Speakers of American English might find it slightly unusual but will likely understand the meaning from context. The meaning itself is quite clear.
Examples
- Person A: You probably shouldn't have waited until the last minute to start. Person B: Yeah, fair call.
- Person A: I think we need more data before making a decision. Person B: Fair call. Let's hold off.
- Person A: It's raining pretty hard, maybe we should postpone the picnic. Person B: Fair call.
Dialogue
Liam: I don't think I can finish this report by tomorrow, I have too many other urgent tasks.
Sophia: Okay, fair call. Can you give me an update by lunchtime tomorrow instead?
Liam: Yes, I can do that. Thanks for understanding.
Social Media Examples
- Forum discussion reply: You argued that the methodology has flaws. Fair call, we should address that in the revision.
- Comment on a critique: Ok, fair call, the ending did feel a bit rushed.
- Twitter reply: User A: Maybe consider the environmental impact? User B: @UserA Fair call.
Response Patterns
- The person whose point was acknowledged might simply nod or say Right. or Exactly.
- The conversation often moves on, with the acknowledged point being accepted.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- After someone concedes with Fair call, the conversation might shift based on that accepted point.
- Person A: We should cancel the meeting, key people are absent.
- Person B: Fair call.
- Person A (Follow-up): Okay, I'll send out the cancellation notice.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a response acknowledging the validity of something previously stated.
Intonation
- Typically acknowledging and slightly conceding.
- Often said with a neutral or slightly resigned tone.
- Moderate pitch range, often falling intonation. FAIR CALL.
Generation Differences
- Used across various adult age groups in the regions where it's common.
Regional Variations
- Much more common in Australian, New Zealand, and British English than in American English.
- Americans would more likely say Fair point, Fair enough, or That's fair.