Up to scratch
Meaning
Meeting the required standard or quality.
Origin
In the brutal world of 19th-century bare-knuckle boxing, a crucial line, or 'scratch,' was drawn on the ground in the center of the ring. Fighters, battered and bruised, had to advance their toes to this mark to signify their readiness to continue fighting after a knockdown, or to begin a new round. If a boxer was too injured or exhausted to make it 'up to scratch,' they were declared the loser. This vivid image of meeting a demanding physical standard quickly transcended the boxing ring, becoming a universal benchmark for acceptable quality or performance.
Examples
- We need to make sure the new software is up to scratch before we launch it to all users.
- After weeks of training, the athlete was finally up to scratch for the championship race.