up to par
up to par (idiom)
/ˌʌp tə ˈpɑːr/
Variants
- not up to par
- below par
Meanings
- At an acceptable or expected standard.
- Good enough to meet requirements or normal expectations.
- Performing at the usual or proper level.
- Equal in quality to what is considered satisfactory.
- (Literal) Matching the standard score expected in golf.
Synonyms: acceptable; satisfactory; adequate; good enough; standard; passable; competent; up to the mark.
Negative Connotation
When the idiom “up to par” is expressed in negative form—most commonly as “not up to par” or “below par”—it means that something or someone falls short of the expected standard, is below average, substandard, or not satisfactory in quality, performance, condition, or level.
Example Sentences
- The restaurant was clean, but the food quality was not up to par.
- The hotel service was polite but not up to par for the price.
- He rested for a week until his health was up to par
- The product design looks fine, but the build quality is not up to par.
- (Literal) The golfer finished the hole up to par despite strong wind.
Etymology and Origin
The idiom “up to par” derives from the Latin word “par,” meaning equal or matching in value. This root entered the English language in the early seventeenth century, initially denoting equality in monetary terms or circumstances. Over time, it evolved to signify a standard or average level, extending beyond financial contexts to represent expected quality or performance in various domains.
Theories on Origin
One prevailing theory attributes the idiom’s development to financial practices, where “par” referred to the face value of stocks or currencies, leading to expressions indicating whether something met, exceeded, or fell short of that benchmark.
Another belief connects it directly to the game of golf, where “par” denotes the standard number of strokes for a hole, suggesting the phrase emerged from sporting terminology to describe adequacy.
A broader perspective traces it to notions of equality in general standards, influenced by early uses in health and personal condition, predating specialized applications.
Historical Evolution
The concept began in the late seventeenth century with phrases indicating deviation from a norm, such as values below equality in trade or exchange. This usage drew on established mercantile practices involving currency exchange and commodity valuation.
Joint-stock companies, which issued transferable shares, had already emerged by the early seventeenth century. The English East India Company, formed in 1600, was an early example of such a venture, with shares traded informally among merchants. The world’s first formal stock exchange appeared in Amsterdam in 1602, tied to the Dutch East India Company, enabling public trading of shares. In London, informal share trading occurred at the Royal Exchange (established in 1571) and in coffee houses, with the first printed lists of stock and commodity prices published in 1698.
These developments supported discussions of value “at par,” “above par,” or “below par” in economic contexts. By the mid-eighteenth century, the term expanded to metaphorical uses in literature, describing conditions above or below an expected level. In the late nineteenth century, the term gained prominence in sports, particularly golf, reinforcing its association with meeting predefined criteria. This progression reflects a shift from economic equality to broader assessments of sufficiency in everyday language.
Country of Origin
The phrase first appeared in England, where early records of related expressions emerged in publications reflecting financial and social standards. This origin aligns with the integration of Latin-derived terms into English discourse during the period of expanding trade and literary development.
Earliest Printed Record
The earliest known printed use of a phrase closely akin to “up to par,” in the form “under Par,” occurs in a periodical focused on trade announcements. The work is the London Gazette, issue number 2213, authored anonymously and published on February 28, 1687. The quotation states:
“Those that are Treacley may be sold under Par“
It illustrates the term’s application to items valued below a standard price.
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