making the cut
Meeting the threshold
Making the cut means meeting the standard required for inclusion or advancement.
The phrase comes from competitive contexts where a field is reduced—golfers who make the cut after early rounds continue to the final rounds, while others are eliminated.
More broadly, it applies to anything that survives a selection process: Only three candidates made the cut for the final interview, The song didn't make the cut for the album.
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- cutSeverance or reduction
- final cutApproved version for release
- criteriaStandards for judgment
- selection processMethod for choosing among candidates
shortlist · eligibility · passing muster · contest · talent pool · threshold · victory · tryout · training · ranking · team roster · rivalry · proving ground · certification · audition · draft pick · playoff · qualifier
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
making the cutcrashing out
Falling asleep suddenly
bowing out · flaming out · tanking · choking · bombing out
make, makes, maker, makers, making, remake, unmade, cutting, cutter