par for the course
Meaning(s)
1. what one might expect, not a surprise, normal
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
that's just par for the course
Analysis
The idiom par for the course refers to something that is expected, not out of the ordinary or normal. Usually, if you describe something as being par for the course it means you're not particularly happy about it but that it was nevertheless expected. This is a popular expression used in both professional and social contexts.
Professional Examples (Advance)
A surge in popularity is par for the course when a celebrity endorses your product.
It's par for the course to expect problems when users haven't encountered this software before.
Social Examples (Basic)
- Traffic delays are par for the course on my commute to work these days.
- In most European cities extortionate rents are par for the course due to an upsurge in tourism and lack of available housing.