yardstick
/'jɑ:dstik/
Definition
- 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.
Noun
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a ruler or tape that is three feet long
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a measure or standard used for comparison
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on what kind of yardstick is he basing his judgment?
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