meet expectation

You can use it for people, products, or experiences. Usually, we use it with possessives like my, our, or their. You can also add words like fully or completely to sound more satisfied. If something is even better, you might say it exceeded expectations. But meet is the baseline for being happy enough.

Use it at work during performance reviews. It’s the standard way to say someone is doing a good job. Use it when reviewing a hotel or a movie. If the trailer looked good and the movie was good, it met your expectations. It's perfect for professional emails when a project goes well.

Don't use it for a romantic surprise. Telling your partner their anniversary gift met your expectations sounds like you are grading their homework. It’s a bit too logical for deep emotions. Also, avoid it if something was life-changing. If you saw the best concert ever, met expectations sounds like an insult because it’s too "average."

In Western corporate culture, this phrase is everywhere. It is the "Grade B" of the business world. In the US and UK, being told you meet expectations at work is actually good. It means you are reliable. However, some high-achievers feel it’s too boring. They always want to exceed them. It reflects a culture obsessed with measuring performance.

You will often hear meet requirements or fill the bill. If things go wrong, we say fall short of expectations. If things go amazingly, we say surpass expectations. You might also hear people say it lived up to the hype. That’s the cooler, more casual cousin of this phrase.