in fine fettle

in fine fettle

In good physical and/or mental health. A: "I heard you had the flu last week, so how are you feeling now?" B: "I'm finally back in fine fettle, thank goodness!" I had been in fine fettle for a while, but now that school is over I'm feeling pretty sad.
See also: fettle, fine
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

in fine fettle

INFORMAL, OLD-FASHIONED
If someone or something is in fine fettle, they are in very good health or condition. You seem in fine fettle. Helped by low interest rates, the banks are in fine fettle.
See also: fettle, fine
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

in fine fettle

in very good condition.
Fettle was recorded in a mid 18th-century glossary of Lancashire dialect as meaning ‘dress, case, condition’. It is now seldom found outside this phrase and its variants, which include in good fettle and in high fettle .
See also: fettle, fine
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

in fine/good ˈfettle

(old-fashioned, informal) healthy and cheerful: After ten hours’ sleep and a good long run, I was in fine fettle. OPPOSITE: be, feel, etc. out of sorts
See also: fettle, fine, good
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

fine fettle, in

In excellent condition. This expression comes from the old dialect verb “to fettle,” which meant to put right. It was first put as “in good fettle,” and was so used throughout the nineteenth century. Alliteration has helped it to survive.
See also: fine
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • be in fine fettle
  • fettle
  • fine fettle, in
  • in fine/good fettle
  • have (someone or something) by the ears
  • have something by the ears
  • get well
  • fighting fit
  • rebound from
  • rebound from (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
MICK CHANNON'S progressive inmate Youmzain is reported to be in fine fettle ahead of tomorrow's IVG Preis von Europa in Cologne.
Racing in Brief
John XXIII was convinced that she could, for the Church was in fine fettle, never more vigorous:
Forty years later: Vatican II (1962-1965)
Caersws ended their Welsh Premier campaign in fine fettle after clinching fifth place with victory over managerless Druids.
Caersws 3 Druids 1
In the final episode of this fabulous series, the calorie-counting pals are in fine fettle as they brace themselves for a second appearance on TV chat show Trisha.
Culture: TV Choice
I was delighted to read Allan Ulrich's warm interview with Matt Mattox and learn that the great dancer is still in fine fettle. The reference to Mattox as dancer in the 1955 musical The Vamp reminded me how much I liked him in that legendary Broadway flop (its loss of more than $350,000 was close to a record in the '50s).
Mad about Mattox
"We went into the winter break in fine fettle. We were desperately unlucky not to take a point against Hibs and that was followed by a good result against Motherwell.
Football: Win derbies and we're born three
This is a study which begins when England's aristocracy was in fine fettle and concludes with their torturous decline.
Country House Life: Family and Servants, 1815-1914
Dark Emerald 3.50 Hamilton SP forecast 13-8 Has been in fine fettle of late, running some top races in defeat behind Group horses.
BANKERS OR BLOWOUTS?
The 28-year-old singer was in fine fettle as she sang four tracks, including a brilliant acoustic version of Keane's Somewhere Only We Know.
Lily up in arms
A depleted Willows wilted against an attack-minded Five Bars who had Lloyd Winkle (3) in fine fettle in Sunday's 8-0 rout.
Windmill blow hard on leaders; WIRRAL SUNDAY LEAGUE
Boro ended last season in fine fettle and have continued in the same vein so far this term.
Sam Spread Colin Duncan
KIDLAT has been in fine fettle this winter and can claim a deserved success at Kempton (2.45) tomorrow.
Time for Kidlat to taste victory again
The players looked in fine fettle ahead of this afternoon's mouth-watering clash with the mighty Springboks, which commemoratesWales' fantastic win over the same opposition back in 1999, the first fixture staged at the Millennium Stadium.
Fun in the sun for the Wales boys ahead of today's big showdown
Although a bit of cut in the ground would probably help his cause, Tajneed is in fine fettle, having finished well ahead of several reopposing rivals at Beverley last time.
Ripon rapport
Trainer John Murphy reports Newmill, current holder of the Festival crown, in fine fettle despite his distant last-of-four effort behind Iktitaf in a hurdle race here in November.
Nickname to call shots