English word meaning 'in
good health'. Believed to originate from the French '
fin' which besides meaning finished also means complete or whole. It is from whole that we get the word '
hale' meaning healthy. Despite the attempts of speakers on motivational courses to suggest that it is an acronym standing for 'Fucked-up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional' it is a valid word, with a considerable pedigree, to be
used as the answer to the question 'How are you?'
"You know that teambuilding course I went on, silly bitch running asked me how I was, and when I said fine, looked down her
nose at me and said' fine stands for Fed-up, Insecure, Emotional and Neurotic' and I should say
good."
"What did you say?"
"I asked her if she was
good and when she said yes looked down my nose at her and told her '
good stands for Gormless, Overbearing, Over opinionated, and Depressing' and she should say 'fine'. I got a round of applause and she didn't like that at all."