# good enough for jazz

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/good-enough-for-jazz
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Good enough.

## Examples

- It is not perfect, but it is good enough for jazz.
- The repair on the fence looks a bit messy, but it is good enough for jazz.
- While the final report lacked the polish he originally intended, he decided it was good enough for jazz and submitted it before the deadline.

## Origin

Originating in the vocabulary of musicians, the phrase traditionally served as a professional dismissal when an instrument was found to be imperfectly tuned. It suggested that a lack of precision, while perhaps disqualifying in other contexts, would be absorbed into the performance without consequence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.