| measure up to something measure up (to (someone/something)) to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else. The math skills of the majority of children in this school measure up to the national standards. Usage notes: often used in a negative way: They didn't measure up so I couldn't hire them. Too often computer software fails to measure up to expectations. The comparison is usually w/sth, only rarely with sb--SL, 12/02 |