yardstick

/'jɑ:dstik/

Thân thiện

A teacher uses a wooden yardstick to measure the length of a classroom table.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A measuring tool: A yardstick is a physical ruler or measuring stick that is exactly one yard (three feet or 0.9144 meters) in length, used for taking measurements.
   • A standard for comparison: In a figurative sense, a yardstick is any standard, criterion, or benchmark used to measure, judge, or compare the quality, value, or success of something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Measuring Tool):

  • The carpenter used a wooden yardstick to measure the length of the board.
  • Please hand me the yardstick; I need to check the height of this shelf.

• Noun (Standard for Comparison):

  • Customer satisfaction is the most important yardstick for our company's performance.
  • In many societies, academic success is still used as a yardstick for a child's future prospects.

Advanced Usage

• "to use something as a yardstick": To employ a specific standard for making comparisons.
  • We use last year's sales figures as a yardstick to measure our current progress.
• "to measure/judge something by the same yardstick": To evaluate different things using the same standard.
  • You can't measure the success of an artist and an engineer by the same yardstick.

Variants and Related Words

• Yard (n): A unit of length equal to 3 feet or 0.9144 meters, from which the tool gets its name.
• Benchmark (n): A standard or point of reference against which things may be compared, similar to the figurative use of "yardstick."
• Criterion (n): A principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided.

Synonyms

• Standard: An accepted or approved example against which others are judged.
• Measure: A standard unit used to express size, amount, or degree; also used figuratively.
• Gauge: An instrument or standard for measuring or assessing something.
• Barometer: Something that indicates changes or trends (figurative).

Related Phrases

• "By any yardstick": According to any standard of measurement or judgment.
  • By any yardstick, the project was a tremendous success.
• "Fails to meet the yardstick": Does not reach the required standard.
  • The proposal fails to meet the yardstick we established for funding.

Related Idioms

• A yardstick for success: A specific criterion used to define what success means.
  • For him, personal happiness, not wealth, is the true yardstick for success.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a ruler or tape that is three feet long
2. a measure or standard used for comparison
   • on what kind of yardstick is he basing his judgment?

Từ đồng nghĩa

• yard measure