# par for the course

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/par-for-the-course
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To be expected; normal; common.

## Examples

- Long lines at this store are par for the course.
- A few mistakes are par for the course when you learn a new language.
- Rainy weather is par for the course during the spring months in this city.
- Delays are par for the course when you travel during the busy holiday season.
- My old car breaks down every few months, but that is par for the course when you drive a vehicle that is twenty years old.
- The boss often changes his mind at the last minute, which is par for the course in this fast-paced office environment.
- Given the volatile nature of the industry, such sudden shifts in market strategy are considered par for the course by experienced analysts.

## Origin

Originally a technical term from the sport of golf, the phrase describes the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to require for a hole or a course. The expression entered the general lexicon with an ironic shift in expectations: while achieving par is a result of unusual competence for the average player, the idiom has come to denote a result that is merely typical or predictable.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.