Average (2-2) Crossword Clue
Answer: SO SO (4 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Average (2-2)" with 4 letters is "SO SO".So-so means average or mediocre, indicating something that is neither particularly good nor bad, but just acceptable. It is often used to describe a performance, experience, or quality that is unremarkable or lacking in excellence.
Why “So So” Fits
The clue asks for a phrase (2-2) meaning “average.” The answer, SO SO, fits perfectly:
- Average: So so is a common expression used to describe something that is neither particularly good nor particularly bad — exactly matching the clue’s definition.
- Direct match: With the enumeration (2-2), so so fits the clue’s structure precisely.
- Precise meaning: The phrase conveys mediocrity or moderate quality, used in everyday speech to express indifference or lack of enthusiasm.
So so is an informal yet widely used phrase in English, often reflecting mild displeasure or neutrality:
- Origin and usage: The phrase dates back to the 16th century. Derived from simple repetition of so for emphasis, it was originally used to mean “in an indifferent manner” or “not remarkable.”
Tone and implication:
- Serves as a polite, understated way to describe average or unexceptional performance, quality, or feeling.
- Often carries a neutral-to-negative connotation depending on context and tone.
Contexts:
- Conversation: “How are you today?” – “So so.”
- Evaluation: “The film was so so; I’ve seen better.”
- Emotional state: “He felt so so after the exam — not bad, not great.”
Examples:
- “The food was so so — nothing outstanding.”
- “I’m feeling so so after that long day.”
- “The review of the new book was so so — mixed reactions overall.”
In quick crosswords like “Average (2-2),” the clue typically refers to an idiomatic expression describing mediocrity:
- Definition: “Average” directly defines so so, a conversational synonym for “moderate” or “not impressive.”
- Clue type: Straightforward vocabulary clue — no cryptic wordplay needed.
- Clue pattern: Expressions created by repetition (so so, tut tut, bye bye, ha ha) are common in crosswords, especially in clues with hyphenated or (2-2) patterns.
Solving technique:
- The enumeration (2-2) signals a short, repeated phrase.
- When paired with clues like “average,” “mediocre,” “not great,” or “fair,” so so is almost always a perfect fit.
