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

Finance Minister John O'Dowd said the amount of funding that the UK government had made available to the Executive was "extremely disappointing" and "significantly below par".

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

From Barron's

England still have "fire" burning in them ahead of the T20 World Cup Super Eights, Jacob Bethell said Friday, admitting that Harry Brook's side had been below par during a lacklustre group campaign.

From Barron's