passing muster
Clearing the bar
Passing muster means meeting an acceptable standard of quality or adequacy.
The phrase comes from military inspections where soldiers lined up for review—those who passed muster were fit for duty.
Now it applies broadly: The report barely passed muster with the committee.
His excuse didn't pass muster.
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
- checkOrder to pay
- nodBrief head tilt
- approvalFavorable opinion given
- seal of approvalOfficial sanction symbol
stamp of approval · appraisal · qualification · standards · criteria · evaluation · acid test · scrutiny · eligibility · assessment · benchmark · judgment · button · quality control · making the grade · cutting it · uniform · examination
passing musterfalling short
Not meeting expectations
coming up short · missing the mark · not cutting it · flunking · falling flat
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