This is fine with/by/for me (2025)

Whodunit

Senior Member

กรุงเทพมหานคร

Deutschland ~ Deutsch/Sächsisch

  • Jun 30, 2006
  • #1

I hope you don't mind my mentioning your names:

Gaer explained that he (or at least some people in his vicinity) uses "by me" in this thread.

Timpaec used "for me" in this thread.

And the version that I most often hear and read is "that's fine/ok with me." I'd like to know which of these three alternatives you usually use. Furthermore, if you have another possibility to add, please feel free to do so. Do you find that "by", "with", and "for" have different connotations and differing influence on the sense of the sentence?

I'm looking forward to read your interesting replies. This is fine with/by/for me (2)

  • L

    la reine victoria

    Banned

    Relaxing at Osborne, Isle of Wight

    England, English

    • Jun 30, 2006
    • #3

    Hi Whodunit,

    There can be slight nuances in BE. I will give some sample sentences.

    "I'm going out this evening and won't be home until very late. Is that OK?"
    "Yes, that's fine by me."

    "I've just made a small meal this evening as I know you had a large lunch."
    "I certainly did! Yes, that's fine for me."

    "I've checked out the holiday brochures and I think I'd like to go to Greece."
    "Greece, eh? Sure, that's fine with me."

    The difference in "by" and "with" is virtually indistinguishable and I would happily use either - but I do tend to say "fine by me" (habit, I think).

    LRV

    mgarizona

    Senior Member

    Phoenix, AZ

    US - American English

    • Jun 30, 2006
    • #4

    I just looked at that again. "Fine with me" and "fine by me" are used to express permission, or at least an absence of objection, in a situation where a personal objection might be expected.

    Timpaec's "fine for me" works more along the lines of "fine in my opinion" in a situation where an opinion, not permission, was being elicited.

    It's not a large distinction but it's there, and as always, English is fluid.

    L

    la reine victoria

    Banned

    Relaxing at Osborne, Isle of Wight

    England, English

    • Jun 30, 2006
    • #5

    Good explanation Mgarizona. This is fine with/by/for me (5)

    LRV

    mgarizona

    Senior Member

    Phoenix, AZ

    US - American English

    • Jun 30, 2006
    • #6

    Why, thank you, my liege.

    K

    Krith

    Member

    Spain

    • Mar 24, 2015
    • #7

    What if the question is not opinion or permission but availability?

    For example:
    A: We should schedule a meeting, what about next Monday at 18:30?
    B: That is fine with/by/for me.
    C: That is too late with/by/for me.

    Sparky Malarky

    Senior Member

    Indiana

    English - US

    • Mar 24, 2015
    • #8

    Krith said:

    What if the question is not opinion or permission but availability?

    For example:
    A: We should schedule a meeting, what about next Monday at 18:30?
    B: That is fine with/by/for me.
    C: That is too late with/by/for me.

    In this case, "that's fine for me" means I am available at that time. "That's fine by/with me" means I do not object to that time. In practice, these really mean the same thing because you would object if you were not available.

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    This is fine with/by/for me (2025)

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