under par
Fewer strokes needed
Under par describes performance below expected standards—feeling under par after a rough night, or work that's a bit under par.
The phrase borrows from golf, where par is the expected number of strokes for a hole or course.
Confusingly, in golf itself, scoring under par is excellent—fewer strokes than expected.
Outside golf, the phrase inverts: under par means substandard.
- below averageUnder the norm
- birdieOne stroke under par
- missFail to reach
- eagleLarge predatory bird
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
hole-in-one · tee shot · ailing · not up to scratch · duff · slice · handicap · whiff · shank · inadequate · stroke play · match play · front nine · deficient · lag · mediocre · poor · lacking
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- less thanfewer, smaller, lower, reduced, diminished
under parup to par
Meeting expected standards
up to standard · excellent · exceptional · outstanding · up to scratch
under parin fine fettle
In excellent condition
fit as a fiddle · hale and hearty · fighting fit · right as rain · on top of the world
under, par, parity, disparity, subpar, underperform, underperformance