Measure sb against sb Meaning / Examples / How to Use

What Does “Measure sb against sb” Mean?

“Measure sb against sb” means to compare one person to another to judge qualities, abilities, or performance.

Introduction

The phrase “Measure sb against sb” is commonly used when comparing two people to see how they match up in skills, character, or achievements. Understanding the measure sb against sb meaning helps learners recognize how comparisons are made in English. This phrasal verb is often used in professional, educational, or everyday situations to express how one individual is evaluated by comparing them with another. Using this phrase correctly can improve your communication, especially when discussing performance or qualities.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: Measure sb against sb (measure somebody against somebody)
• Type: Transitive
• Level: B2
• Meaning: To compare one person to another to judge their qualities or abilities

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Measure sb against sb” is a transitive, inseparable phrasal verb. You cannot separate the phrase with an object in between.

Correct pattern: measure somebody against somebody

Example: They measured the new employee against the team leader.

Incorrect: They measured against the team leader the new employee.

How to Use “Measure sb against sb”?

Use this phrase when you want to compare two people. It often appears in discussions about skills, performance, behavior, or achievements. The phrase implies a judgment or standard based on comparison.

It can be used in formal and informal contexts, such as at work, school, or personal life.

Examples

When hiring new staff, companies often measure candidates against their current employees to find the best fit.

• It’s unfair to measure her against her brother; they have very different talents.
• The coach measured the young player against the team’s star to see if he was ready.
• We should not measure people against each other all the time.
• She was measured against the company’s top salesperson before the promotion.
• Measure sb against sb in a sentence: “You can’t measure John against Mark because they work in different departments.”

Common Mistakes

People often confuse the word order or try to separate the phrase incorrectly.

• Incorrect: They measured against the manager the new intern.
• Correct: They measured the new intern against the manager.
• Incorrect: Measure someone with someone.
• Correct: Measure someone against someone.

Differences / Synonyms

“Measure sb against sb” is similar to “compare sb to sb,” but there are subtle differences. “Measure against” often suggests a more formal or evaluative comparison, while “compare to” can be more general.

Other synonyms include:

• Compare sb with sb — usually to highlight similarities and differences.
• Judge sb by sb — focuses more on making a decision based on comparison.
• Match sb against sb — often used in competitions or sports.

Each phrase has its own nuance, so choose based on context.

Common Collocations

When using “measure sb against sb,” certain words often appear:

• Performance — “measure performance against a colleague”
• Standards — “measure someone against high standards”
• Expectations — “measure her against family expectations”
• Previous work — “measure current work against previous work”
• Competitors — “measure employees against competitors”

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of measure sb against sb:

• Measure Sb Against Sth
• Measure Sth Up
• Measure Yourself Against Sb
• Measure Sth Against Sth
• Measure Sth Off

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “measure sb against sb”:

Alice: How do you decide who gets promoted?

Ben: We measure each candidate against the current team leader’s performance.

Alice: That sounds fair. It helps to see who fits best.

Practice

Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:

• They always ________ new hires ________ the most experienced staff.
• It’s not right to ________ her ________ her older sister.
• The coach will ________ the young players ________ last season’s champions.

FAQs

• Q: Can I say “measure sb with sb”?
  A: No, the correct phrase is “measure sb against sb.”
• Q: Is “measure sb against sb” formal or informal?
  A: It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Q: Can I use “measure sb against sb” for objects?
  A: It is mainly used for comparing people, not objects.
• Q: What is the difference between “measure sb against sb” and “compare sb to sb”?
  A: “Measure sb against sb” is more evaluative, while “compare sb to sb” is more general.
• Q: Is “measure sb against sb” separable?
  A: No, the phrase is inseparable; keep the words together.