par for the course
Nothing at all surprising
Par for the course means typical or expected, especially when the outcome is disappointing but unsurprising.
The phrase comes from golf, where par is the standard number of strokes for a hole.
Something that's par for the course is about what you'd predict: The train was late again—par for the course.
Technical difficulties? Par for the course with this software.
- typicalRepresentative of a kind
- same old same oldWearisome repetition of routine
- routineRegular sequence of actions
- ordinaryStandard, unremarkable
- unsurprisingCausing no astonishment
norm · average · standard · predictable · usual · commonplace · nothing new · expected · nothing special · run-of-the-mill · no big deal · foregone conclusion · what else is new · unremarkable · anticipated · customary · goes without saying · hole
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- complacency phrasesgood enough, why bother, it is what it is, not my problem, whatever
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind
- Self-Pitywoe is me, why me, nobody cares, story of my life, taken for granted
par for the courseunexpected
Not anticipated beforehand
out of the ordinary · surprising · shocking · unforeseen · anomalous
par for the courseextraordinary
Beyond what's typical
remarkable · exceptional · astounding · phenomenal · jaw-dropping
course, pare, courses, coursing, coursed, pared, parred, courser, coursers