come up to scratch
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There was also taken up for hawks, originally used of old horses which were slaughtered and their meat tossed to the hawks, latterly of those who failed to come up to scratch.
From BBC • Jun. 23, 2014
Now if they do not come up to scratch they are in danger of losing their funding.
From The Guardian • Jul. 8, 2012
A tough second quarter for investment banking earnings, dragged down by sovereign debt woes in Europe and trading jitters, is prompting many to cut back in areas where revenue has not come up to scratch.
From Reuters • Jun. 30, 2011
Whatever happens with this guy, I hope you start considering this level of kindness as the absolute bare minimum you expect out of future boyfriends, and immediately dumping anyone who can’t come up to scratch.
From Slate
“After all the wonderful exhibitions he’s given in the past, it would have been terrible if he hadn’t come up to scratch to-night.”
From The Radio Boys Trailing a Voice or, Solving a Wireless Mystery by Chapman, Allen
