Idiom query: "make a fist of it"

[randy_byers]

So what does "make a fist of it" mean? I see this idiom in British English.

Comments

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Roughly speaking "to make a half-decent attempt at it", although I've usually seen it slightly expanded as "make a good fist of it" or variants.

Example: "Fred had never put together a convention programme before but overall he made a pretty good fist of it."

I have no idea of the etymology.

[dalmeny]

I have often heard the variant "decent fist".