Cutting the mustard is a phrase that refers to meeting expectations and surpassing goals. It suggests that something or someone is good enough to meet requirements or achieve success. The phrase originates from early 20th century US slang and is still used frequently today in various settings.
Table Of Content:
- Where Does The Phrase "Cut The Mustard" Come From ...
- The saying 'Cut the mustard' - meaning and origin.
- What is the origin of the phrase "doesn't cut the mustard"? | Notes ...
- cut the mustard - Wiktionary
- Cut the mustard. - Urban Dictionary
- What Does Cut the Mustard Mean? - Writing Explained
- 'Muster' or 'Mustard': Which Gets a Pass? | Merriam-Webster
- Can you cut the mustard? - The Grammarphobia Blog
- cut the mustard meaning, origin, example sentence, definition ...
- etymology - What is the origin of the phrase "cut the mustard ...
1. Where Does The Phrase "Cut The Mustard" Come From ...
https://www.dictionary.com/e/cut-the-mustard/
Jun 1, 2019 ... To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do ...
2. The saying 'Cut the mustard' - meaning and origin.
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/cut-the-mustard.html
To succeed; to come up to expectations. What's the origin of the phrase 'Cut the mustard'?. Why cutting mustard was chosen as an example ...
3. What is the origin of the phrase "doesn't cut the mustard"? | Notes ...
https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-2242,00.html
Around the turn of the century, "to cut the mustard" meant to be "of high quality", as when O. Henry said of a pretty girl that "she cut the mustard all right".
4. cut the mustard - Wiktionary
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cut_the_mustard
(idiomatic) To suffice; to be good or effective enough. Give me the bigger hammer. This little one just doesn't cut the mustard. Usage notesEdit.
5. Cut the mustard. - Urban Dictionary
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cut%20the%20mustard.
The modern sense of the idiom is 'to succeed; to have the ability to do something; to come up to expectations', but the phrase is most often used in the ...
6. What Does Cut the Mustard Mean? - Writing Explained
https://writingexplained.org/idiom-dictionary/cut-the-mustard
Cutting the Mustard Meaning ... Definition: To be sufficient for something; to be of high enough quality. People often use this idiom in its negative form, such ...
7. 'Muster' or 'Mustard': Which Gets a Pass? | Merriam-Webster
https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/passing-muster-and-mustard
A small sample of these would include it being a variant of passing muster, cut having the meaning of “successfully engage in an endeavor” and mustard being ...
8. Can you cut the mustard? - The Grammarphobia Blog
https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2006/09/can-you-cut-the-mustard.html
Sep 2, 2006 ... A: The phrase “cut the mustard” originated in late 19th-century America. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as “slang (originally U.S.), ...
9. cut the mustard meaning, origin, example sentence, definition ...
https://www.theidioms.com/cut-the-mustard/
cut the mustard · to succeed · to come up to expectations · to be competent enough · to be adequate enough to participate or compete · to be up to the standard.
10. etymology - What is the origin of the phrase "cut the mustard ...
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/23763/what-is-the-origin-of-the-phrase-cut-the-mustard
Cut the mustard probably relates to cutting the mustard plant, before it goes to seed, to protect the crops from ...
Where does the phrase “cut the mustard” come from?
This phrase is believed to have originated in the late 19th century in the United States, first appearing in print in 1914. The exact origin of this idiom isn't known for certain, but some believe it comes from horseracing where jockeys needed to "cut" their mount's "mustard" or speed up when crossing the finish line.
What does it mean to “cut the mustard”?
To “cut the mustard” means that someone has met or exceeded expectations, and can be used both positively and negatively. It generally implies that something has been done well enough to be successful, though not necessarily with exceptional results.
Is cutting the mustard still commonly used?
Yes, this phrase remains popular today and continues to be used in everyday language across a variety of contexts. It sometimes appears as “passing muster” as an alternative phrasing for meeting expectations such as performance reviews at work or evaluations of any kind.
Is there another meaning for cutting the mustard?
While traditionally “cutting the mustard” refers to achieving success, it can also refer sarcastically to doing something badly or not satisfying standards. In this context, it would imply failure or not passing muster even when trying one's best.
Conclusion:
Cutting the mustard is a phrase rooted in early 20th century US slang used today by many people who want to express when someone exceeds expectations or achieves success by meeting established standards set before them. The same phrase can also reference someone failing expectations if said sarcastically.
