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

She hit one fine straight six in the last over but England's total always looked below par.

From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026

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 ● Mar. 16, 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

England had mustered only 128 for nine but showcased their depth and nous, defending a total that looked well below par on a surface offering turn and bounce.

From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026

Even Holly’s beacon was a few shades below par, and that had a micro nuclear battery sending out the pulses.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer