measure up (to someone or something)
measure up (to someone or something)
1. To meet a particular requirement, standard, or expectation. I can't possibly measure up to Mom's sky-high expectations! I didn't get the job after all—I guess I just didn't measure up.
2. To be equal to someone or something in quality, ability, skill, etc. I know you think you don't measure up to your old man, but you're twice the police officer that he ever was! It's a decent enough smartphone, but it just doesn't measure up to other phones available for the same price.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
measure up (to someone or something)
to compare well to someone or something. He just doesn't measure up to Sarah in intelligence. This meal doesn't measure up to my expectations.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
measure up
1. Be the equal of, as in Is he a good enough actor to measure up to the other members of the cast? [Early 1900s]
2. Have the qualifications for, be of high enough quality for, as in His latest book hasn't measured up to the reviewers' expectations. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
measure up
v.
To be the equal of something or someone; be of equal or sufficient quality for something or someone: This team easily measures up to any of the others in the league. I wanted the job, but I just didn't measure up.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.