In The Pink

Also used:

in the pink of health
in the pink of condition

Meaning of Idioim ‘In the Pink’

To be in the pink means to be in very good health; in good spirits; in perfect condition; feeling great both physically and emotionally. 1Ayto, John. [http://amzn.to/2vdGvI7 Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms]. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.,2Heacock, Paul. Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms]. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010.,3Jarvie, Gordon. Bloomsbury Dictionary of Idioms. London: Bloomsbury, 2009.

Sentence Examples

“How are you?” asked Victoria. “In the pink,” answered Oliver. “Never felt better.”

“I hope you’re feeling better.” “I’m in the pink and ready to go.”

“At 78 years old she exercises vigorously in the gym and is in the peak of condition.”

“Don’t let my age fool you. I’m in the pink of health.”

“Yes, I suppose these days you are concentrating more on the sprints than on the long-distance stuff.” “Not so, dear boy. I’m in the pink of condition.”  — Sleuth (1972)

” So, according to the lab tech that took Haley’s blood, she was in the pink of health, but as we know, Ray McKibben’s alibi checked out.” — Elementary: Blood Is Thicker (2013)

“Appearances mean so little.  My dear Bertie appeared to be in the pink of health always, yet he is gone and I remain.” — The Crimson Petal and the White: Episode  (2011)

Origin

In addition to being a color, a pink is also any of a genus of flowers (Dianthus of the family Caryophyllaceae or ‘pink family’ or Carnation family) that have pink red or white flowers, with a sweet smell and slender leaves. Pink came figuratively to mean a supreme example of something, its essence or perfection.  Shakespeare used it in Romeo and Juliet:

Juliet: ‘I am the very pink of courtesy‘.

This use led to the phrase in the pink of condition. In the pink came later as a shortened version.