pass muster
To meet or exceed a particular standard.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“This report does not pass muster for the boss.”
“The new employee worked hard to ensure his performance would pass muster during the probationary period.”
“The architect revised the blueprints several times before the city council agreed that the design finally passed muster.”
From the 1570s, originally appearing as *pass musters*. The phrase is a compound of *pass*, meaning to undergo successfully, and *muster*, referring to a military assemblage or review. It records the moment a soldier or their equipment was deemed acceptable by a presiding officer.
- 01
come to pass
To happen; to occur.
- 02
hard pass
An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.
- 03
let this cup pass from me
An appeal to God or another authority to take away one's present or future suffering.
- 04
parade passed someone by
Someone missed out on the joys of life, an opportunity, or popular movement
- 05
pass away
To die.
- 06
pass on
To die.
- 07
pass the bottle of smoke
To acquiesce in some falsehood; to make pretence.
- 08
pass the buck
To transfer responsibility or blame from oneself onto another; to absolve oneself of concern for a given matter by claiming to lack authority or jurisdiction.
Last updated August 10, 2026