- Meaning
- This idiom describes something that is typical, expected, or standard for a given situation, as if it meets the ‘par’ score in golf, which represents the norm for a hole. It conveys a sense of normalcy or inevitability, often used in professional, social, or everyday contexts to dismiss surprises or complaints by framing them as routine. The phrase carries a tone of acceptance, resignation, or mild cynicism, reflecting cultural attitudes toward predictable challenges or mediocrity, particularly in repetitive or demanding environments. It resonates in settings where setbacks or quirks are commonplace, capturing the human tendency to normalize difficulties, and its golfing imagery adds a layer of leisurely sophistication, evoking a sport’s measured expectations. The idiom often implies that the situation, while not ideal, is not worth fussing over, making it a pragmatic expression for acknowledging life’s routine hurdles.
- Origin
- The phrase originated in early 20th-century Britain or America, rooted in golf, where ‘par’ denotes the standard number of strokes for a hole, a benchmark of typical performance. Its metaphorical use emerged in the 1920s, with an early appearance in a 1929 *New York Times* golf column, describing a routine performance as ‘par for the course.’ The idiom gained traction in the 1930s, reflecting golf’s growing popularity among the elite, as seen in P.G. Wodehouse’s golf stories, which use sporting metaphors. Its use expanded in mid-20th-century American English, particularly in business and military contexts, where routine challenges were normalized, as noted in *The Wall Street Journal* during the 1950s. The phrase’s adoption in British and Commonwealth English came through American media and sports culture, and its spread was fueled by its vivid imagery, evoking a golfer’s expected score, and its applicability to normalcy, ensuring its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from corporate offices to casual conversations. Its golfing origin gives it a unique blend of precision and nonchalance, appealing to both serious and humorous contexts.
- Variants
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- Par for the course
- Just par for the course
- About par for the course
- Typical par for the course
- Examples
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- The software crashing again? Par for the course with this old system.
- Just par for the course, the meeting ran over by an hour.
- About par for the course, he forgot his lines during the rehearsal.
- Typical par for the course, the traffic’s a mess on Fridays.
- Par for the course, the client changed their requirements last minute.
- Delays are par for the course when shipping internationally.
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