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

With the preferred trading so far below par, it appears unlikely that the company will issue additional Stretch shares unless the price rebounds.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Anything below par and Morocco, with their speed and creativity, will give them a rough night.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

That figure is substantially below par for any team with serious title aspirations.

From BBC ● Mar. 9, 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