par for the course

Idioms and Phrases

An average or normal amount; just what one might expect. For example, I missed three questions, but that's par for the course . This term comes from golf, where it refers to the number of strokes needed by an expert golfer to finish the entire course. Its figurative use for other kinds of expectation dates from the second half of the 1900s.

Example Sentences

They are never easy, but for Beauvais, public conversations about sensitive subjects have become par for the course.

From Los Angeles Times

The chilling effect, the intimidation, is just par for the course with everything that they’re doing around abortion.

From Slate

Par for the course in Hollywood, of course, but Jane soon regains her footing and returns to her authentic self.

From Los Angeles Times

To some degree, this is par for the course in the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

It moves so fast that all the excesses, all the outrages seem to be par for the course.

From Salon

Related Words

• cinch