up to scratch
Meeting the standard
Up to scratch means meeting the required or expected standard.
Something that isn't up to scratch falls short of what's acceptable or satisfactory.
The repairs weren't up to scratch, so we had to call another contractor.
The expression likely derives from the scratch line in boxing or racing, where competitors had to come up to the mark to begin—if you couldn't make it to scratch, you weren't fit to compete.
Meeting minimum standards
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- sufficientMeeting minimum requirements
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
- decentAcceptably good
tolerable · adequate · fair · okay · good enough · serviceable · reasonable · not bad
Skilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- capabilityPower to accomplish tasks
- readinessState of being prepared
- preparednessState of being equipped
fitness · form · condition · shape · caliber · quality · effectiveness · efficiency
Standard for comparison
- yardstickThirty-six-inch ruler
- criterionStandard for judgment
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- baselineStandard for comparison
norm · requirement · specification · expectation · bar · level · mark · measure
acceptable
Meeting minimum standards
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
- sufficientMeeting minimum requirements
- satisfactoryMeeting minimum requirements
decent · tolerable · adequate · fair · okay · good enough · serviceable · reasonable · not bad · all right
proficiency
Skilled performance level
- competenceAdequate ability to function
- capabilityPower to accomplish tasks
- readinessState of being prepared
preparedness · fitness · form · condition · shape · caliber · quality · effectiveness · efficiency · ability
benchmark
Standard for comparison
baseline · norm · requirement · specification · expectation · bar · level · mark · measure · gauge
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
up to scratchsubstandard
Below required quality
not up to scratch · subpar · below par · inadequate · unsatisfactory
up to scratchunfit
Not suited for purpose
incapable · incompetent · unqualified · unprepared · not ready
scratch, scratched, scratching, scratches, scratcher, scratchy