passed muster
Met the standard
Passed muster means met the required standard or gained approval after examination.
The phrase comes from military inspections where soldiers would assemble (muster) to have their equipment and readiness evaluated.
If something passes muster, it's good enough to be accepted; if it doesn't, it falls short of expectations.
Her proposal barely passed muster with the committee.
The repairs passed muster, so we moved back in.
- hold waterBe logically defensible
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- testEvaluative examination
- failBe unsuccessful
- reviewCritical written assessment
measure up · cut the mustard · criteria · nod · thumbs up · seal of approval · fit the bill · made the cut · inspection · benchmark · success · make the grade · validation · accept · good enough · scrutiny · certification · threshold
passed musterfailed
Did not succeed
flunked · fell short · bombed · missed the mark · struck out
pass, passed, passing, passes, passer, passable, impassable, muster, musters