to find one's own level

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Said of a person who, after making an unsuccessful start, arrives at the position in society, business, etc., for which his gifts or attainments qualify him.

Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)

Sources & notes

Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “to find one's own level” mean?

Said of a person who, after making an unsuccessful start, arrives at the position in society, business, etc., for which his gifts or attainments qualify him.

Is “to find one's own level” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.