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Glite Dictionary
below par

below par

1 4.8
Worse than usual or expected in quality, performance and health
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : por debajo de lo normal
  • Results are results, Nate, and your class is way below par.
  • well below par

And you're stuck with something that is below par.

Examples

  • I'm not saying it's not a good tape, I'm saying the quality and quantity are below par.

    Blog text (3)

  • The movies, management, and songs he was given were below par.

    Blog text (13)

  • The performance of the PC business was below par, but Data Center product revenue gives hope for the future of the company.

    Blog text (7)

  • Rashad Jennings (31) - He looked to be in a great position when the MOJO injury occurred, but he has been way below par and faces a top 3 defense in Houston this week.

    Blog text (7)

  • Young children living in poverty situations are often surrounded by individuals who have multiple problems connected with any combination of the following: school dropout, below par in academic performance, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, family instability, unemployment, hunger, homelessness, health disorders, etc.

    Academic text (1991)

  • After not sleeping well, I felt below par during my presentation today.

  • The team's performance was below par, resulting in them losing the game.

  • She usually performs well, but today she was feeling below par due to a cold.

Synonyms

low
vsbelow par
∞ 1.0

Not enough in amount or level

refers to poorer condition or reduced energy rather than insufficient amount
substandard
vsbelow par
27 4.4

Not as good as the usual or required quality

means simply worse than usual expectation, not necessarily failing formal requirements
subpar
vsbelow par
15 4.5

Not as good as people expect

also covers temporary low health or energy rather than only quality
off
vsbelow par
14 3.5

Not as good as usual

often means feeling less healthy or energetic across a period
suboptimal
vsbelow par
4 5.6

Less good than the best choice

compares to the normal expected level rather than the best possible
subnormal
vsbelow par
1 6.4

Lower than the normal level in amount or quality

is the everyday way to say less than usual or feeling unwell
subaverage
vsbelow par
4.9

Lower than the normal level in quality or performance

compares to an average measure rather than usual health or energy

Antonyms

healthy
695 1.0

In good body and mind condition without sickness or injury

above par
1 4.2

Better than usual in quality, performance or value

How Well

healthy
695 1.0
well
142 1.0
okay
1 1.0
off
14 3.5
below par
  • Informal
1 4.8
unwell
18 1.0
ill
632 1.0

Surface Forms

below par positive

Morphology

below + par

The meaning 'not as good as usual or expected' is directly and compositionally derived from 'below' (lower than) + 'par' (the standard or expected level), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer 'below standard' or 'feeling less than usual'. The construction follows a straightforward comparative logic rather than an idiomatic shift, making it immediately understandable to learners familiar with the constituent senses.

Etymology

Below par may come from old talk about money: par meant the normal value of something, so if it was below that value it was worth less. So, calling a person or thing below par now means 'not as good as usual' or 'feeling weak'.