“Fine” can mean great, okay, a penalty or a razor-thin line. No wonder people hide inside it.

A word that can mean four different things is a perfect place to hide, because nobody can prove which one you meant. That is exactly why it shows up when someone does not want to explain themselves. It ends the conversation without lying, and it usually ends it before anyone reaches the real answer.

Listen for it this week, in other people and in yourself. When a friend gives you that answer, try one more question instead of moving on. And when you catch yourself reaching for it, pick a word that actually says something, even a small one.