
When someone asks, “How are things?”, “I can’t complain” usually does not announce an absence of opinions. It is an understated way of saying that things are fairly good and there is nothing serious to grumble about. It sounds natural in Australian conversation, although it is not uniquely Australian.
A: How’s work going? B: Busy, but I can’t complain. The speaker admits that work is busy while judging the overall situation acceptable. The phrase is more restrained than “Everything is wonderful”, and it does not claim that every detail is perfect. A tired tone can even make it sound closer to “I’m getting by”. “I have no complaint” is more formal and usually refers to a specific service or issue, so it is not a natural substitute in this greeting.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/can%27t%20complain
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/complain
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