below par

Idioms  

1. Also, under par. Not up to the average, normal, or desired standard. For example, I am feeling below par today, but I'm sure I'll recover by tomorrow. This term employs par in the sense of “an average amount or quality,” a usage dating from the late 1700s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

below par

"His legacy was that he took a team that was below par, and he managed to bring that team back up to the top," said ex-Arsenal and Manchester City player Clichy, who manages third-tier Caen.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

They are so rarely below par but, on this occasion, a poor start cost them.

From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2026

Vanguard bought structured products and housing bonds, and favored buying bonds below par.

From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026

Phil Salt took 24 from the second over, bowled by Holder, and West Indies' total looked 15 runs below par.

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

As the only black player on the squad, I was overly self-conscious at first and performed below par.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

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