名词

1. 衡量标准；评判尺度；准绳
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.

1. a ruler or tape that is three feet long

Synonym: yard measure

2. a measure or standard used for comparison

e.g. on what kind of yardstick is he basing his judgment?