cut the mustard
To achieve the expected standard; to be effective or good enough; to suffice.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Your work doesn't quite cut the mustard.”
“He applied for the manager role, but his experience didn't cut the mustard.”
“The young chef trained for years in Paris, yet his first solo menu failed to cut the mustard with the city's most feared critics.”
first recorded 20th c. disputed origin
Early 20th-century American (used by O. Henry in 1907); 'mustard' was slang for the genuine article or the best of something, though the exact origin is uncertain.
- 01
clear cut
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
- 02
cut a dash
To make a display of oneself; to give a conspicuous impression.
- 03
cut a deal
To reach a negotiated agreement.
- 04
cut a figure
To present an image; to make an impression.
- 05
cut a rug
To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.
- 06
cut a swath
Alternative form of cut a wide swath.
- 07
cut a wide swath
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
- 08
cut about
To go around (move from person to person).
Last updated August 10, 2026