up to scratch
idiom
chiefly British, informal
: good enough : as good as expected or wanted
—usually used in negative statements
Her performance wasn't up to scratch.
Examples of up to scratch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The team quickly realized that holograms were not up to scratch; nor were a host of other technologies.
—
New York Times, 27 May 2022
Meanwhile, are the new BMW electric cars up to scratch?
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021
More renewable energy generation is needed, but if the power grids that carry this clean energy aren’t up to scratch then the investment is pointless.
—Ignacio Galán, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2023
That didn’t come up to scratch for the company.
—WIRED, 19 Jan. 2023
Although this is essentially a casino brand, the brains at BetRivers have made sure that their sportsbook and mobile app are right up to scratch against the competition.
—Sam Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2022
Simu Liu wasn't quite up to scratch with his fighting skills before being cast in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
—Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 4 Feb. 2022
Cottontail rabbits mosey in occasionally, too, and in recent years wild turkeys have showed up to scratch, dust and strut.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2022
If the idea is that Americans must learn to live with an ever-present Covid-19, there is an emerging consensus that the country has failed to get up to scratch on its testing capability.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 20 Dec. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
New York Times, 27 May 2022
Meanwhile, are the new BMW electric cars up to scratch?
—Neil Winton, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2021
More renewable energy generation is needed, but if the power grids that carry this clean energy aren’t up to scratch then the investment is pointless.
—Ignacio Galán, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2023
That didn’t come up to scratch for the company.
—WIRED, 19 Jan. 2023
Although this is essentially a casino brand, the brains at BetRivers have made sure that their sportsbook and mobile app are right up to scratch against the competition.
—Sam Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 29 Sep. 2022
Simu Liu wasn't quite up to scratch with his fighting skills before being cast in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
—Jen Juneau, PEOPLE.com, 4 Feb. 2022
Cottontail rabbits mosey in occasionally, too, and in recent years wild turkeys have showed up to scratch, dust and strut.
—Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2022
If the idea is that Americans must learn to live with an ever-present Covid-19, there is an emerging consensus that the country has failed to get up to scratch on its testing capability.
—Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 20 Dec. 2021
Dictionary Entries Near up to scratch
Cite this Entry
“Up to scratch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/up%20to%20scratch. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share