cut the mustard
To achieve the expected standardTo achieve the expected standard; to be effective or good enough; to suffice.
» Tom has grown old and can't cut the mustard anymore.
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)To achieve the expected standard; to be effective or good enough; to suffice.
Give me the bigger hammer. This little one just doesn’t cut the mustard.
es bringen
потянутьpotjanutʹ
Examples
6 sentencesTom has grown old and can't cut the mustard anymore.
This meal never cut the mustard.
I predicted that you wouldn't be able to cut the mustard in this job.
That doesn't cut the mustard.
deDas bringt es nicht. — al_ex_an_der
It never cut the mustard.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From cut (“to exhibit (a quality)”) + the + mustard (“(originally US slang) something addiFrom cut (“to exhibit (a quality)”) + the + mustard (“(originally US slang) something adding spice or zest to a situation; something setting the standard”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
cuts the mustard, cutting the mustard, cut the mustard, cut the mustard| Base form | cut the mustard · to cut the mustard |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | cuts the mustard |
| Present participle | cutting the mustard |
| Past simple | cut the mustard |
| Past participle | cut the mustard |
irregular · Lesson
Synonyms
9 synonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle