par for the course
/ˌpɑː fə ðə ˈkɔːs/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
what is normal or expected, usually something bad
Examples
- 1The train was twenty minutes late again, which is par for the course on this line.
- 2Long queues at passport control are par for the course in August.
- 3The printer jammed in the middle of the exam — par for the course at our school, sadly.
- 4Tom forgot my name again; that's par for the course with him.
- 5Is heavy traffic on Friday evenings par for the course here, or has there been an accident?
Grammar
Usually after be, often in that's or it's. The phrase does not change; par has no article.
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →neck and neckexactly level in a competitiona game changersomething that transforms how things are doneout of your leaguenot good or skilled enough compared with otherssaved by the bellrescued from an awkward moment just before it gets worseacross the boardaffecting everyone or everything, with no exceptionshome and drysure of success after the difficult part is over
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
