it could have been worse

/ɪt kˌʊdɐv bˌiːn wˈɜːs/

/ɪt kˌʊdɐv bˌɪn wˈɜːs/

used sarcastically to say that the situation is already quite bad or that the outcome is disappointing, despite the attempt to find a positive spin on it

used to express a sense of relief or gratitude that a situation or outcome, although not ideal, was not as bad as it could have been