English edit

Etymology edit

From scratch in the sense of a starting line, as in boxing.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Adjective edit

up to scratch

  1. (idiomatic) sufficient; adequate; of acceptable or satisfactory quality
    They decided that his performance was not up to scratch.
    • 2023 November 29, Richard Foster, “Tyne & Wear Metro goes with the flow”, in RAIL, number 997, page 32:
      But the new trains form just one part of Metro Flow. It's no good having new trains if the network itself isn't up to scratch.

Coordinate terms edit

See also edit