yardstick

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yard|stick /j'ɑːrdstɪk/ (yardsticks)
[N-COUNT]
If you use someone or something as a yardstick, you use them as a standard for comparison when you are judging other people or things.
There has been no yardstick by which potential students can assess individual schools before signing up for a course.

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abreast

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ablaze

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allowance

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