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

That warm event had so upset everything and monopolised so much attention that Low Heath would not have come up to scratch at all on the day originally fixed.

From Tom, Dick and Harry by Reed, Talbot Baines