Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

So far, so good

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "So far, so good" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourThe Ubiquitous Essentials collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

The Ubiquitous Essentials

So far, so good

So far, so good
An expression used to say that everything has been successful or satisfactory up to the present moment, though there is still more to complete and future trouble is possible.
History & Origin

While variations of the phrase existed earlier, the exact expression was famously recorded in James Kelly's 1721 collection of Scottish proverbs. It often carries a traditional humorous undertone, historically illustrated by the joke of a man falling from a high building who remarks 'so far, so good' as he passes each floor.

Examples
Workplace Email

We have finished the first two phases of the software migration, and so far, so good; no major system crashes have been reported.

Casual Conversation

I started my new diet and exercise routine on Monday, and so far, so good, but the weekend will be the real test.

Academic Writing

Initial data collection regarding the new treatment yielded positive outcomes—so far, so good—though long-term efficacy trials remain necessary.

News/Media

The election commission stated that voting stations opened on time across the country with no logistical delays reported: so far, so good.

Formal Speech

As we review our mid-year fiscal performance, I am pleased to say: so far, so good, but we must remain vigilant regarding Q4 market changes.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. The patient's recovery has been so far, so good that the doctors discharged him two weeks early.

B. We are only halfway through this massive project, but so far, so good; all deadlines have been met.

C. I hope your vacation next month will be so far, so good because you deserve a relaxing break.

D. The concert was so far, so good, lasting over three hours and concluding with a massive fireworks display.