# pass muster

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pass-muster
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To meet or exceed a particular standard.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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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.