Elsewhere, in response to Cogito ergo sumo -- Just thinking about food makes me gain weight, a certain bike-riding marine creature responded with Yeah, but you're on great form today! EA

I've always said in great form. What do the rest of you say?

Definitely in form, as in, "the in form Warriors have made the NRL Grand Final"

For me, more likely "on good/great form" but "in good/great shape", although thinking about it, I'd more likely say that "Max is on good form at the moment", refering to their wit, whereas in great form might be more of a sporting reference as in "Arsenal are in great form at the moment".

It could be a cross pond-ism. I think that it is one of those expressions that is hard to pin down, the more I think about it, the more confused it gets.

In great form is the only way I've ever heard it, I think.

Likewise in great form. I b'lieve that's the USn standard. Canadaers?

Always "in great form..."

But I like the ring of "on great form" and will begin using it promptly.

Contrary view time - it's my lunchtime, so I can afford to be contrary - there are two separate expressions here:

1. Someone is on form.
This usage is quite normal in Britspeak parts of the world.

2. Someone is in great form.
This usage means something completely different from 1. but is semantically correct within its own context.

3. You wouldn't, however, claim that someone is on great form, just on form.

So, CapKi, does "on form" meaning something like "on top of a task"?... And "in great form" means something slightly different with more emphasis on the manner of execution of the task?

In my view, yes.

"on good/great form" but "in good/great shape"

That's very close to my reading/writing, Jo.

By saying TEd was "on great form" I was talking primarily about wit/performance rather than physique. If I'd said just "on form" I would have been talking about performance in a sport or competition. Less about wit, though it might (just) be a mental challenge at which TEd was excelling.

Of course TEd, being a true Renaissance Man, may also be "in great shape" physically. Starting with the "in" seems to be enough to imply fitness, though, even if you end up with "form".

Quick rule of thumb then -
"on" = wit, "in" = physique

Everybody clear now?

Yep -- a prolate spheroid is a shape.

Yep -- a prolate spheroid is a shape

Can't resist:


a prolate spheroid is a grape
an oblate spheroid is a shape
...

a prolate spheroid is a grape
an oblate spheroid is a shape...

oblate is "squashed," prolate "stretch'ed"
I've never seen a rhyme more wretched

Likewise in great form. I b'lieve that's the USn standard. Canadaers?

Other Canadaers may correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall hearing either expression used much - so I'm not sure which is the norm here. Read through this debate with interest, though!

didn't Fisk suggest on form = wit and in form = physique? dang, will have to go back and have another look. Anyway, wot he said made sense to me.

Anyone else notice what a weird word "form" is, if you say/read it often enough?! I remember one hapless teacher choosing to give us an example of verb conjugation with the word "farm" - also a doozy if you hear it too often:

I farm
you farm
he/she/it farms
we farm
you farm
they farm

Form. Farm. Barmy....!

If you can't see the bright side, polish the dull side.

I've always heard it as, "You're in rare form today." And I've always taken it to mean you are even better than usual.

I say in great form, too.

But, I'm reading the latest in Janet Evanovitch's silly mystery stories, set among the working class in Trenton, New Joisey (hi, Juan! ), and she refers to her usually quick-on-the-uptake, funny friend as being somewhat "off [n.b. not 'out of'] her form today." So, go figger.

In reply to:

---

I've always heard it as, "You're in rare form today." And I've always taken it to mean you are even better than usual.

---

...or even worse than usual, as the case might be.

being somewhat "off [n.b. not 'out of'] her form

Ah yes Annati, yet another variant..

"Out of form" would definitely be a sporting (especially horse-racing) reference this side of the pond.

"Off form" is quite close to "off colour" (i.e. ill, implying a temporary aberration), but is mostly a reference to social behaviour. Someone who's off form is "not themself" at the moment.
You could talk about, say, a horse being "off form", and would be understood, but there's still an implication of unusual (and disappointing) behaviour over and above the horse running its races like a donkey.

"Bad form" would be extremely - possibly irretrievably - off form. This would never be used about anything other than someone's behaviour.

Surprisingly rich area, this.

I've asked my wife (Brummy origin) and best mate (Kentish origin) about this matter, and their conclusions are almost identical to my own on the UK usage:

"in (good) form" implies being good at a skilled task, usually a sport, though could be something more cerebral.

"on (good) form" implies being witty, entertaining, good company, definitely a pleasant person to have around.

I think I will agree with mg's assertion that "on form" is just plain new to me, and I wouldn't guess it to have meant witty if you guys hadn't told me! I would've just thought it was someone bungling "in form" or "in great form".