Up to the mark

Meaning

The idiom "up to the mark" means that someone or something is performing well, meets expectations or is of good quality. It can also indicate that someone is behaving properly, correctly, or as required.

Usage

• The new employee is up to the mark and will make a great addition to our team.
• My car is up to the mark, so I don't need to worry about it breaking down on my long road trip.
• The restaurant's food was up to the mark, but their service could use some improvement.
• She always manages to keep her work up to the mark, even when she's under a lot of pressure.
• He's still learning the ropes, but he's showing promise and is well on his way to being up to the mark. The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context. It can be used in positive or negative sentences to indicate that someone or something has met expectations or not. For instance, "The new employee is up to the mark" means the employee is performing well, while "The restaurant's food was not up to the mark" means the food was of poor quality.

Roots and History

The earliest known use of this idiom dates back to the early 20th century, according to Oxford English Dictionary. The meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent over time, indicating that someone or something is performing well or meets expectations. There are no cultural or regional variations associated with this idiom.

Synonyms in English

• On the ball
• In the zone
• Spot on
• Dead on target
• Perfectly suited

Synonyms in other languages

• En français: "À point"
• In italiano: "Perfetto/a"
• En español: "Por supuesto"
• In português: "De verdade"
• En German: "Ganz gut"

Similar Idioms

• come up

• taste of own medicine

• willy-nilly