1
general::
Phrase(s): (Things) could be better. [and] (I) could be better.; (Things) might be better.
a response to a greeting meaning "My state is not as good as it might be." (Not necessarily a direct answer.) • John: How are things going, Fred? Fred: Things could be better. And you? John: About the same. • Bob: Hi, Bill! How are you? Bill: I could be better. What’s new with you? Bob: Nothing much., Phrase(s): (I) could be better.
Go to (Things) could be better.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs