under-achievers

It is one thing to install a confrontationalist at a club like Chelsea, who at the time had ground to make up on the other big teams and had no reputation to protect other than a joke one as serial under-achievers, but put Mourinho in charge of United and people who value the club's traditions and good name would immediately start to feel uncomfortable.

Spain's game of greater style – and the rest is histrionics | Paul Wilson 2011

I think, in the end, this is mostly about lowering the bar so the under-achievers won't feel left out.

"If there really was a God here, he'd have raised a hand by now." thingunderthest 2010

Ohio's MAC Tournament and NCAA Tournament accomplishments can either be attributed to dramatic over-achievement, or the fact that the Bobcats were under-achievers for most of the season.

Mid-American Conference 2010

Jay and I are the under-achievers in terms of number of kids we have.

Jimmy Osmond: My family values 2011

British Muslims drawn into terrorism are actually often either well-educated (targeted in colleges and universities), or under-achievers, (targeted by extremist preachers or radicalized whilst in prison).

Rani Singh: Tackling US Terrorism - Lessons From the British Experience 2010

IQ, by itself, isn't that important. we all know examples of very intelligent "under-achievers" and we all know examples of not-so-bright "over-achievers."

Are You Smart: What is intelligence? 2010

It sounds from your post as if they have very low expectations - like it's assumed the Roma and others will be chronic under-achievers.

Slushat Li Detsata? Greg 2009

The majority of under-achievers in our schools are black.

British Racists Must Be Condemned Newmania 2007

They are the perennial under-dogs; under-achievers in the strictest sense who have grasped at their unrealised potential for over three decades, wrestling with creative differences, an identity crisis, line-up changes and personal demons none more so than the self-destructive abuse of drugs and they bear the scars visibly.

London, Anvil: How I Love Thee | Obsessed With Film 2009

We can't afford to be a nation of under-achievers.

Dan Imhoff: Feed Your Children Well 2009