not measuring up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not measuring up" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that someone or something does not meet a certain standard or expectation. Example: "Despite his efforts, he felt that his performance was not measuring up to the team's expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

But is it really the employee who is not measuring up?

University of California, Berkeley

He was not alone in not measuring up to pre-Olympic hype.

The New York Times

I think I was afraid of not measuring up to that.

The Guardian

What does it mean that they share the same constant self-criticism and guilty sense of not measuring up?

The New York Times

"If you're competing with your peers and you're not measuring up, you're going to find ways to improve," he said.

The New York Times

He got tired of people reminding him of his father and grandfather, and saying, You're not measuring up".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

"We were afraid we would not measure up".

The New York Times

All things considered, New Orleans did not measure up".

The New York Times

Financially, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate did not measure up to its public profile.

The New York Times

The facts of this case do not measure up to the foregoing standard.

Cornell University

The Government's evidence in this case does not measure up to this exacting standard.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when choosing between "not measuring up" and its alternatives. More formal situations may call for phrases like "failing to meet the standard", while informal settings may be suitable for idioms like "not cutting it".

Common error

Avoid using "not measuring up" without specifying what the subject is failing to measure up to. Saying "He's not measuring up" is vague. Instead, specify: "He's not measuring up to the required sales quota."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not measuring up" functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject's failure to meet a certain standard or expectation. This is evident in Ludwig's examples, where it qualifies entities ranging from individual performance to societal ideals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not measuring up" is a common idiom used to describe the failure to meet a specific standard or expectation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and broadly applicable. Its frequent appearance in news and media indicates its relevance in public discourse, while its presence in academic contexts suggests its utility in analytical evaluations. Although generally neutral in tone, more formal settings might benefit from alternatives like "failing to meet the standard". When employing "not measuring up", ensure clarity by explicitly stating the benchmark against which the subject is being assessed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

falling short

This alternative is more direct and implies a clear failure to reach a specific target.

coming up short

This alternative is similar to "falling short" but may imply a slightly less severe failure.

not living up to expectations

This alternative explicitly mentions expectations, highlighting the disappointment of others.

failing to meet the standard

This alternative focuses on a specific standard, suggesting a formal evaluation process.

not up to par

This alternative is more informal and suggests a general lack of quality.

underperforming

This alternative is often used in business or academic contexts to describe someone who is not performing well.

not cutting it

This alternative is an informal idiom that means not being good enough or successful enough.

lacking

This alternative implies a deficiency in a specific quality or attribute.

deficient

This alternative is more formal than "lacking" and suggests a more serious inadequacy.

inadequate

This alternative suggests that something is not good enough for a particular purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "not measuring up" in a sentence?

You can use "not measuring up" to indicate that someone or something is not meeting a specific standard or expectation. For example, "The team's performance is "not measuring up" to the coach's expectations."

What are some alternatives to "not measuring up"?

Some alternatives to "not measuring up" include "falling short", "not living up to expectations", or "failing to meet the standard". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "not measuring up" a formal or informal phrase?

"Not measuring up" is generally considered a neutral phrase, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal situations, alternatives like "failing to meet the standard" might be more appropriate.

What does it mean when someone says something is "not measuring up"?

When something is described as "not measuring up", it means that it is "underperforming", "inadequate", or "deficient" in some way. It implies a comparison to a standard or expectation that is not being met.