Not bad is not just two words. Not bad is a quintessential phrase with at least four meanings. As I've been studying Mandarin for a few years and learning about "tones", the phrase "not bad" is a perfect example of tones in English.
If you hear "not bad" with a downward town, it actually means "really bad". Especially if there's a quick "yeah" before it.
If you hear "not bad" in a monotone, that actually means not bad. "It's ok".
If you hear "not bad" with a slight uptone, almost like asking a question, then that means "pretty good actually". "I kind of liked it, but don't really want to admit that since I don't know how you feel".
If you hear "not bad at all", that means "probably the greatest thing I've ever seen, but why be so dramatic"
I'm still working on my pronunciation, but it's certainly a key phrase to know!
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