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.
See also: measure, someone, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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.
See also: measure, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
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]
See also: measure, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
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.
See also: measure, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- measure up
- go sky-high
- blow sky-high
- blow sky-high, to
- blow somebody/something sky-high
- blow something sky-high
- bring (something) within a/the range
- have an appetite for
- have an appetite for (something)
- at (something's) lowest ebb