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Meaning & use

par for the course

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌpɑː fə ðə ˈkɔːs/
US/ˌpɑːr fər ðə ˈkɔːrs/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiom

    Normal and to be expected in a situation, usually something a bit annoying.

    Grammar: Used after be, usually with it or a noun: delays are par for the course.

    Patterns

    • be par for the course
    • be par for the course for someone

    Long waits at that clinic are par for the course.

    Rain in April is par for the course in this region.

    For a first-time novelist, rejection letters are par for the course.

  2. phraseidiom

    Typical of what a particular person, group or place usually does.

    Grammar: Often followed by for plus a person or group.

    Patterns

    • be par for the course for someone

    Arriving late is par for the course for my brother.

    A bit of chaos at the airport is par for the course on holiday weekends.

Common combinations

just par for the course
A few glitches are just par for the course with new software.
be par for the course for
Delays are par for the course for this airline.
pretty much par for the course
Missing sleep was pretty much par for the course as a new parent.
that's par for the course
A cold in winter? That's par for the course.

Synonyms and how they differ

typical
Typical is a plain adjective, whereas par for the course is a casual idiom that often hints at mild resignation.
to be expected
To be expected is more neutral and formal, while par for the course sounds more conversational.
standard
Standard describes ordinary quality or practice, without the sense of an unwelcome but familiar event.
business as usual
Business as usual describes things carrying on normally, with less of a sense of a nuisance.

Opposites

out of the ordinaryunexpected

Word family

par noun
the standard number of strokes in golf; an accepted standard
below par phrase
worse than the usual standard
up to par phrase
as good as the usual standard

Commonly confused: par for the course or below par?

par for the course vs below par

Below par means worse than usual or not feeling well, while par for the course means as usual.

Practice

Your friend says that traffic jams during rush hour are par for the course. What does she mean?

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