WordValepar for the course
normal or expected, though not good
In more detail
(idiom) what you would normally expect to happen; a typical or ordinary situation, especially one that is not surprising or unusual
Examples
- Getting stuck in traffic during rush hour is just par for the course in this city.
How to use par for the course
This idiom expresses that something is ordinary or expected, often used to indicate acceptance or resignation toward a predictable outcome. It's slightly informal and commonly appears in everyday conversation, particularly when something disappointing or frustrating happens that one should have anticipated. The tone is matter-of-fact rather than judgmental.
Common phrases
- that's par for the course
- just par for the course
- par for the course in
- seems par for the course
Synonyms
the norm · typical · business as usual · standard procedure · what you'd expect
Opposites
unusual · exceptional · surprising
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 'below par' or 'above par', forgetting that the idiom refers to what is normal or expected, not to quality or performance level.
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