1. Home
2. Idioms
3. measure up

measure up

---

---

measure up (to someone or something)

to compare well to someone or something. He just doesn't measure up to Sarah in intelligence. This meal doesn't measure up to my expectations.

See also: measure, up

measure up (to somebody/something)

to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else The math skills of the majority of children in this school measure up to the national standards.

Usage notes: often used in a negative way: They didn't measure up so I couldn't hire them. Too often computer software fails to measure up to expectations.

See also: measure, up

measure up

1. Be the equal of, as in Is he a good enough actor to measure up to the other members of the cast? [Early 1900s]

2. Have the qualifications for, be of high enough quality for, as in His latest book hasn't measured up to the reviewers' expectations. [First half of 1900s]

See also: measure, up

measure up

v.

To be the equal of something or someone; be of equal or sufficient quality for something or someone: This team easily measures up to any of the others in the league. I wanted the job, but I just didn't measure up.

See also: measure, up