Meaning
To be good enough.
Cultural Background
The phrase is closely tied to 'Svensk Standard'. Swedes value consensus and reliability; if something 'håller måttet', it means it is socially and technically acceptable. In Swedish meetings, 'hålla måttet' is a polite way to give negative feedback. Saying 'det håller inte måttet' is less personal than saying 'you did a bad job'. Swedish sports media uses this constantly to evaluate if domestic players are ready for international leagues (proffskollen). Swedes have high expectations for product longevity. A product that breaks quickly 'håller inte måttet', leading to complaints to 'Konsumentverket'.
Use it for reviews
Whenever you want to sound like a local when reviewing something, use 'hålla måttet'. It sounds much more natural than just saying 'det var bra'.
Definite form only
Never say 'hålla mått' or 'hålla ett mått'. The idiom is fixed as 'hålla måttet'.
Meaning
To be good enough.
Use it for reviews
Whenever you want to sound like a local when reviewing something, use 'hålla måttet'. It sounds much more natural than just saying 'det var bra'.
Definite form only
Never say 'hålla mått' or 'hålla ett mått'. The idiom is fixed as 'hålla måttet'.
The 'Med Råge' trick
If something is way better than expected, say it 'håller måttet med råge' (measures up with plenty to spare).
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Den nya restaurangen var okej, men den höll inte ______.
The idiom always uses the definite singular form 'måttet'.
Match the situation to the correct use of the phrase.
Which situation best fits the sentence: 'Han håller inte måttet för det här jobbet'?
'Hålla måttet' refers to quality and skill standards in a professional context.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'hålla'.
A: Hur var konserten igår? B: Den var tyvärr dålig. Den ______ inte måttet.
The dialogue is in the past tense ('igår'), so we use the past tense 'höll'.
Which of these sentences is grammatically correct and natural?
Select the best sentence:
This is the standard, fixed form of the idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Hålla Måttet vs. Räcka Till
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDen nya restaurangen var okej, men den höll inte ______.
The idiom always uses the definite singular form 'måttet'.
Which situation best fits the sentence: 'Han håller inte måttet för det här jobbet'?
'Hålla måttet' refers to quality and skill standards in a professional context.
A: Hur var konserten igår? B: Den var tyvärr dålig. Den ______ inte måttet.
The dialogue is in the past tense ('igår'), so we use the past tense 'höll'.
Select the best sentence:
This is the standard, fixed form of the idiom.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, but usually in a professional or skill-based context. 'Han håller inte måttet som lärare' is fine. Avoid using it for someone's personality in general.
It's neutral. You can use it in a business meeting or with your friends at a pub.
The most common opposite is simply 'inte hålla måttet'. A stronger version is 'vara under all kritik'.
No, it's actually more common for abstract things like performances, ideas, and services.
No, that would mean 'holding the measurements' literally, which isn't the idiom.
Yes, for example: 'Jag är övertygad om att min kompetens håller måttet för denna tjänst.'
Use 'Det höll inte måttet'.
It can be both, but it's very frequently used in the negative to point out flaws.
Absolutely. It's a very common way to describe if a meal was up to standard.
'Duga' is more like 'it will do' (barely acceptable), while 'hålla måttet' implies it actually meets a proper standard.
Related Phrases
Räcka till
similarTo be enough/sufficient.
Duga
similarTo be good enough.
Uppfylla kraven
synonymTo fulfill the requirements.
Vara under all kritik
contrastTo be extremely bad.
Hålla ställningarna
similarTo hold the fort.
