up to the mark

up to the mark

Meaning

• to be good enough
• as good as expected
• to meet a minimum standard of quality
• to step up to the mark means to up your standards
• to keep someone up to the mark means to keep the standards high

Example Sentences

1. Your exam results this term were not up to the mark.
2. The play was not up to the mark.
3. We expect all of our employees to deliver work that is up to the mark. You are not doing that.
4. Continuous training will ensure that all work delivered will be up to the mark.
5. Our team will need to step up to the mark if they want to win the championship.
6. His boss keeps them up to the mark with bi-weekly reviews.

Origin

The word “mark” has been used in Middle English since 900. One of the uses of the word is a “dividing line”. That could mean a physical line or a figurative line. Though it is unclear where the idiom originated from it is not difficult to assume that there would be a line separating good achievements from the rest. If you are up to the mark you would thus be rated as better than the rest.

Synonyms

required standard; in control; in top of things; standard; par; gauge; level; norm; criterion; measure; yardstick; rule; scale