par for the course

Idioms  

1. An average or normal amount; just what one might expect. For example, I missed three questions, but that's par for the course. This term comes from golf, where it refers to the number of strokes needed by an expert golfer to finish the entire course. Its figurative use for other kinds of expectation dates from the second half of the 1900s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

par for the course

The court’s ruling was in some ways par for the course in that it marked yet another rejection of a 5th Circuit’s ruling.

From Slate ● Jun. 18, 2026

When asked about an article reporting that Frost had been proscribed sleeping pills, Lampert said: "We wouldn't ever report that sort of information now, but that was par for the course then."

From BBC ● Mar. 3, 2026

But in “Industry,” that’s all par for the course.

From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026

Thursday’s benign reading of 16 points, a level that indicates broad market neutrality, seems par for the course in a market that’s growing inured to political risks.

From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026

But that was par for the course, Jesse pointed out.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

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