yardstick

[ yahrd-stik ]

/ ˈyɑrdˌstɪk /

a stick a yard long, commonly marked with subdivisions, used for measuring.

any standard of measurement or judgment: Test scores are not the only yardstick of academic achievement.

Origin of yardstick

An Americanism dating back to 1810–20; yard¹ + stick¹

yardie, yarding, yardland, yardman, yardmaster, yardstick, yare, yaren, yark, yarkand, yarkant he

When decisions had to be taken, she attempted to guess what Albert would have done and used this as her yardstick.

How Queen Victoria's Affection For John Brown Sprang From His Contact With Dead Albert's Shade |Tom Sykes |June 13, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The yardstick, in other words, is not how a Palestinian group treats its own people but how it treats Israel.

The Pro-Palestinian Left's Hamas Blindspot |Peter Beinart |March 8, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
Like continuity, it provides a yardstick against which we can measure ourselves.

9 Best Life Lessons From ‘How the Queen Can Make You Happy’ |Tom Sykes |September 13, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
That sense of sustained struggle provides the yardstick for judging Obama.

How the Recession May Save Obama |David Frum |August 1, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

“$40 million, $50 million a year is excessive, no matter what the yardstick,” he says.

He’s One of the Nation’s Highest-Paid CEOs—and You’ve Never Heard of Him |Gary Rivlin |January 2, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The yardstick, the half bushel, and the coining of money are all devices to facilitate exchanges.

The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 9 (of 12) |Robert G. Ingersoll
It uses the welfare of man as the yardstick of measure rather than treating the subjects under the head of natural resources.

Industrial Progress and Human Economics |James Hartness
It is about, I would say it was shorter than a yardstick, yes.

Warren Commission (10 of 26): Hearings Vol. X (of 15) |The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
Hold a yardstick or meter stick beside the tube, remembering to keep the tube straight up and down.

Common Science |Carleton W. Washburne
Let the general good be our yardstick on every great issue of our time.

Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006 |Various

yardstick

/ (ˈjɑːdˌstɪk) /

a measure or standard used for comparison on what kind of yardstick is he basing his criticism?

a graduated stick, one yard long, used for measurement