I sometimes hear people saying "Oh that was a below par performance," meaning 'not very good.' But if someone is below par in golf, that's a good thing, isn't it?
So, if you're below par shouldn't that be a compliment, or am I missing something?
Danny x
Actually it is not good. It means not as good as par, so used for something that is not as good as it should be. I know its strangely worded considering the lower a a score in golf the better.
below par
Also, under par. Not up to the average, normal, or desired standard. For example, I am feeling below par today, but I'm sure I'll recover by tomorrow . This term employs par in the sense of "an average amount or quality," a usage dating from the late 1700s.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
********************
below par
Not as good as average or normal. I feel a little below par today. I think I am getting a cold. His work is below par, and he is paid too much money.
The Urban Dictionary
It's a derivation of under Parr dating back to the 16th century.
When Henry V111 was not feeling too well, the Queen, Katherine Parr would ride cowgirl or caballera as it was then called. Thus he felt under Parr. When he was fit and resumed the missionary position, he felt above Parr!
Simples *squeak*
Brilliant bit of urban mythology.
She was, as I recall, the last wife.
Given that he had tertiary syphilis, if not incipient General Paralysis of the Insane (4th stage), at the time I wonder about his capabilities in that department.
"insensitive prick!" – Danielle Algo
Lesson learned: never use golf as a reference!
=== Not ALL LIVES MATTER until BLACK LIVES MATTER ===
Not everyone does golf and so average people will use the term as doing bad. You don't use jargon's on everyday ;)
Very simple "Less than would be expected"
I've only heard 'below par' used as pertaining to golf scoring.
In the real world here, the term is 'sub par' when refering to something as below average.
To me it means whomever one is refering to is just not quite upto scratch as it were. For example said person did not live upto ones expectations so you therefore consider them "below par" and under achieving.
Below average. Fuck the golfers!
My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill. certainly below normal, average, expectations... that sort of thing. But who sets the level is another topic. Might be below someone's expectations, but above someone else's.
