up to scratch: meaning and explanation
If something is up to scratch then it is at the required or acceptable standard.
This expression is usually used negatively, to say that something is not good enough, or does not meet the required standard. e.g. He tries hard, but I’m afraid his results just aren’t up to scratch.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Micro-listening #1
Accent: England (RP)
About the sentence
…I’m sorry to say…
The phrase I’m sorry to say… is a useful way of introducing bad news. e.g. I’m sorry to say that your loan application has been turned down.
Micro-listening #2
Accent: Wales
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Micro-listening #3
Accent: Scotland
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Extra practice
Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:
- Can you remember an example of a time when you had to deal with something that just wasn’t up to scratch? What did you do?
- Has there ever been a time when your work or performance wasn’t up to scratch?
Photo by Seven Song on Unsplash
Can you remember an example of a time when you had to deal with something that just wasn’t up to scratch? What did you do?
When I presented my FCE exam before my local University and failed the writing.
I had to review the whole course on structure, conjunctions and titles.
Great example Teodoro, and sorry to hear about the FCE! The writing part is very challenging. Did you take it again? How did you get on?
I bought an English book because I believed that it was advanced, but It was very basic, the book wans’t up to scratch compared to others advanced English books. I gave it to my brother.
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Hi Chris, Can you please give me an advice to remember the vocabulary in the future?
Thank you
Excellent example Jeferson. One tiny correction – in English, we don’t ‘pluralise’ adjectives, so it would just be ‘compared to other advanced books’ (not ‘others’).
It’s interesting that you asked about remembering vocabulary – I am currently writing a post with tips and advice for learning new vocabulary efficiently. I’ll send out an email when it it ready.
I was in a group and we should answer some questions for an activity and send them to our professor. I had difficulties and the answers were up to scratch. I wish I could had formulated better answers, but my partners were like “oh, send it anyway, it’s great”, but it was not. At the end, we sent the poorly written activity so we could go home soon.
Last Saturday, I had a presentation for my English class, but I hadn’t had time enough to study. My teacher liked it, but I think it was up to scratch.
Thanks for these great phrases as usually!
As for my example I remember one of the cases when I failed the English test during the interview process to get a job. I had a gut feeling that it wasn’t my place, so I didn’t feel too upset the test wasn’t up to scratch. Later I’ve got another interview and became a part of a great team.