measure (redirected from measure words)

beyond measure

Fig. in an account or to an extent more than can be quantified; in a very large amount. They brought in hams, turkeys, and roasts, and then they brought vegetables and salads beyond measure. They thanked all of us beyond measure.

See also: beyond

for good measure

as extra; (adding) a little more to make sure there is enough. When I bought a pound of nails, the clerk threw in a few extra nails for good measure. I always put a little extra salt in the soup for good measure.

See also: good

made to measure

[of clothing] made especially to fit the measurements of a particular person. Jack has his suits made to measure because he's rather large. Having clothes made to measure is rather expensive.

See also: made

measure (someone) against (someone else) (or something against something else)

to compare someone with someone else; to compare something with something else. Daniel measured his brother against the boy next door. We measured the new building against the older ones and found the new one lacking in many respects. I measured myself against Tom and found him superior in almost everything.

See also: against

measure someone up against someone or something

to place someone up against someone or something else for the purpose of comparing size or other qualities. Please measure Fred up against Tom and see who has the best qualifications. Can you measure Brian up against the mark on the wall to see how tall he is growing?

See also: against, up

measure something off

to determine the length of something. He measured the length of the room off and wrote down the figure in his notebook. Fred measured off the width of the house. Fred measured a few feet of string off, and cut it with a knife.

measure something out

to measure and distribute something as it is being taken out, unwrapped, unfolded, etc. Carl measured the grain out a cup at a time. He measured out the grain little by little.

See also: out

measure up (to someone or something)

to compare well to someone or something. He just doesn't measure up to Sarah in intelligence. This meal doesn't measure up to my expectations.

See also: up

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for good measure

if you do something or add something for good measure, you do it or add it in addition to something else In today's programme we have a full report on today's top football matches, with some cricket and athletics thrown in for good measure. I swept the floor and polished the table, and then, for good measure, I cleaned the windows.

See also: good

have the measure of somebody/something   (slightly formal)

to understand what someone or something is like and to know how to deal with them What was clear was that the president no longer had the measure of his country's problems. I don't think she's under any illusions about her husband - she's got the measure of him.

See also: have

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beyond measure (slightly formal)

to an extremely high degree Our religious faith improved our lives beyond measure.

See also: beyond

for good measure

in addition to something else already said or done He wrote a great article, and for good measure took the photograph used for the magazine cover.

See also: good

measure up (to somebody/something)

to reach a standard that is as good as someone or something else The math skills of the majority of children in this school measure up to the national standards.

Usage notes: often used in a negative way: They didn't measure up so I couldn't hire them. Too often computer software fails to measure up to expectations.

See also: up

take the measure of somebody/something (slightly formal)

to make a judgment or form an opinion about someone or something She quietly observed him, taking the measure of this man she had heard so much about.

See also: take