below par — below the expected standard; not as good as usual or required
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: below the expected standard; not as good as usual or required
Pronunciation (IPA): /bɪˈloʊ pɑːr/
Example Sentences
- I'm feeling below par today, so I'll skip the gym.
- The restaurant's service was below par - our waiter forgot our order twice!
- My cooking skills are definitely below par compared to my grandmother's.
below par
ADJECTIVE[/bɪˈloʊ pɑːr/]
below the expected standard; not as good as usual or required
His performance was below par today, missing easy shots all morning.
Below par car beneath a perfect star
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The phrase 'below par' derives from golf terminology. 'Par' originates from Latin 'par' meaning 'equal' or 'equivalent,' adopted in golf to denote the standard number of strokes a skilled golfer should require to complete a hole. 'Below par' initially carried positive connotations in golf but has evolved in general usage to mean 'substandard' or 'below expected quality.'
Breakdown
below (under, beneath) + par (Latin 'par': equal, standard). In golf, 'below par' refers to completing a hole in fewer strokes than the established standard, which is favorable; however, in non-golf contexts, the phrase has acquired a negative sense implying inadequacy or inferiority to an accepted standard.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I'm feeling below par today, so I'll skip the gym.”
“The restaurant's service was below par - our waiter forgot our order twice!”
“My cooking skills are definitely below par compared to my grandmother's.”
“His jokes were so below par that even the crickets stopped chirping.”
📚Related Words
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