cut the mustard
Perform adequately enough
Cut the mustard means to meet expectations or perform adequately.
The phrase appears almost exclusively in the negative: He just couldn't cut the mustard anymore.
Someone who cuts the mustard is good enough for the task at hand; someone who doesn't falls short of the required standard.
Having required skills
- qualifiedMeeting necessary standards
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- sufficientMeeting minimum requirements
- passableMinimally sufficient quality
acceptable · satisfactory · competent · proficient · skilled · able · up to par · good enough
Succeed through effort
- succeedAchieve a desired aim
- excelSurpass all others
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- prevailTo succeed ultimately
deliver · perform · accomplish · manage · pull off · come through · rise to the occasion · prove oneself
capable
Having required skills
- qualifiedMeeting necessary standards
- adequateBarely meeting standards
- sufficientMeeting minimum requirements
passable · acceptable · satisfactory · competent · proficient · skilled · able · up to par · good enough · measure up
achieve
Succeed through effort
prevail · deliver · perform · accomplish · manage · pull off · come through · rise to the occasion · prove oneself · pass muster
- cut itmake it, hack it, pass muster, make the grade, measure up
- food idiomspiece of cake, bread winner, low-hanging fruit, cool as a cucumber, bad egg
- skill idiomsknow the ropes, on the ball, sharp as a tack, jack of all trades, hit the ground running
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- success idiomshit the jackpot, strike gold, make it, rags to riches, come out on top
cut the mustardfall short
Fail to reach standard
fail · come up short · miss the mark · fall flat · flunk