to measure up to the best that is in them

English translation: to reach their fullest potential

10:19 Jul 9, 2012
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Esoteric practices
English term or phrase: to measure up to the best that is in them
Hello everyone,

The successful business attitude must be cultivated to make the most out of your life, the attitude of expecting great things from both yourself and others. It alone will often cause men to make good; to measure up to the best that is in them.

The dictionary says:

measure up (to something/somebody)
(usually used in negative sentences and questions) to be as good, successful, etc. as expected or needed

But I fail to understand the meaning of the phrase in question in my context

Thank you.
Mikhail Korolev
Local time: 20:34
Selected answer:to reach their fullest potential
Explanation:
To measure up to someone/something is not always used in a negative context. It depends on whether the first item/person can or cannot measure up to the second item/person. E.g.

"he felt he could never measure up to his brother's achievements" - negative

"Soon however, Marianne meets a man who measures up to her ideal" - positive (see web reference)

Here it means that a successful business attitude will help men reach their fullest potential. (measure up to the best in them = be equal to the very best in them, be the very best they can be)

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Note added at 12 mins (2012-07-09 10:32:39 GMT)
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ETA: It seems I keep being a tiny bit late with my entries today (after someone else has thought of more or less the same thing). Time for a Proz.com break. :)
Selected response from:

Eliza Ariadni Kalfa
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:34
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Eliza.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2to reach their fullest potential
Eliza Ariadni Kalfa
4 +1fully realise their potential
Charles Davis


  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
fully realise their potential


Explanation:
"The best that is in them" means the best of which they are capable, the best qualities and abilities they possess. "Measure up to" means to attain a given standard; in this case, it means to perform to the best of one's ability or potential.

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Note added at 10 mins (2012-07-09 10:29:55 GMT)
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"In them" recalls an expression like "I knew you had it in you", meaning "I knew you had the ability to achieve this".

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 18:34
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Martin Riordan
48 mins
  -> Thanks, Martin!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to reach their fullest potential


Explanation:
To measure up to someone/something is not always used in a negative context. It depends on whether the first item/person can or cannot measure up to the second item/person. E.g.

"he felt he could never measure up to his brother's achievements" - negative

"Soon however, Marianne meets a man who measures up to her ideal" - positive (see web reference)

Here it means that a successful business attitude will help men reach their fullest potential. (measure up to the best in them = be equal to the very best in them, be the very best they can be)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2012-07-09 10:32:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

ETA: It seems I keep being a tiny bit late with my entries today (after someone else has thought of more or less the same thing). Time for a Proz.com break. :)


    Reference: http://www.online-literature.com/austen/sensibility/
Eliza Ariadni Kalfa
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:34
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone.
Thank you, Eliza.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: But your explanation is good, Eliza!
5 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  Martin Riordan
47 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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