
In everyday Australian conversation, when someone asks, “How are things?”, the reply “Can’t complain” usually means that things are going reasonably well or that there are no major problems. It does not mean “I am not entitled to complain”.
A: How’s work going?
B: Busy, but I can’t complain.
The speaker acknowledges that work is busy but says the overall situation is all right. In a specific discussion, “I can’t complain about the service” is closer to the literal meaning: there is nothing objectionable about the service.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%27t%20complain
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