So Far So Good – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking

When you're answering questions in the IELTS Speaking test, you might often be asked about ongoing experiences, like a new job, a recent project, or progress toward a goal. Using natural idiomatic expressions in these moments can make your English sound more fluent and confident. One such phrase that’s perfect for this context is “so far so good.” It's casual, positive, and easy to use when you’re updating someone on how things are going.

Meaning of "So Far So Good"

Definition: Things are going well up to this point; there haven’t been any problems yet.

This idiom is used when something is still in progress, and although it’s too early to make final judgments, everything is going smoothly so far.

Origin of the Idiom

The phrase “so far so good” is believed to have originated in the early 20th century and has become widely popular in casual and professional conversation. It combines two simple expressions: “so far,” meaning up to this point, and “so good,” meaning everything is fine. Together, they express a cautious optimism about a situation that is still unfolding.

Examples in Context

Here are a few ways native speakers commonly use this idiom:

• “I’ve just started my new role at the company—so far so good.”
  → Everything is going well in the new job.
• “The weather’s holding up and we’re making good time on the road trip—so far so good.”
  → The trip is progressing well.
• “How’s your IELTS preparation going?” “So far so good, I’m sticking to my study plan.”
  → The speaker is making steady progress.
• “We’re halfway through our group presentation and so far so good.”
  → There have been no problems yet.

When Can You Use This Idiom in IELTS Speaking?

You can use “so far so good” in various parts of the IELTS Speaking test, especially when:

• Talking about a project or goal you’re working on
• Sharing updates about a new experience or situation
• Describing something that’s in progress, like a job, course, or trip

It works particularly well in IELTS Speaking Part 1 when answering questions like “How’s your work going?” or “Do you enjoy your studies?” You can also use it in Part 2 when narrating an experience, or in IELTS Speaking Part 3 when discussing long-term changes.

Sample IELTS Cue Card Answer Using the Idiom

Describe a project that you were involved in.

You should say:
– When it happened
– What the project was about
– What your role was
– And explain why you liked or didn’t like it

Sample Answer:

“One of the most interesting projects I worked on was during my second year of university. We were asked to develop a business plan for a fictional startup. It happened just before our final exams, which made time management very challenging.

My role was to conduct market research and develop the marketing strategy. At the beginning, things felt a bit disorganised, but as we divided tasks and held regular meetings, the progress improved. I remember someone asking me how it was going, and I said, so far so good. That really summed it up—everything was on track even though there was still work to be done.

In the end, we received great feedback from our professor and even won a small prize for creativity. It was tiring but really satisfying.”

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Similar Expressions

Here are some alternatives or related idioms that convey progress or steady development: