- To meet the required standard; to be good enough, effective, or successful.
- Often used in the negative (doesn't cut the mustard) to mean something or someone is inadequate or fails to meet expectations.
Explanation
Origin
The origin is uncertain and debated. Popular theories include:
- Connection to pass muster (military inspection). Muster might have been corrupted to mustard.
- Ranching slang related to cattle quality.
- Association with the phrase keen as mustard, implying something needs to be sharp/good enough (keen) like strong mustard.
- Literal cutting of mustard plants (less likely).
Regardless of its precise origin, it emerged in American English around the late 19th/early 20th century, meaning to achieve a certain standard of quality or performance.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Up to snuff (Similar meaning, also somewhat dated)
- Do the trick (Be sufficient for a specific purpose)
- Get the job done (Be effective enough)
- Make the cut (Be selected, meet the minimum requirement)
- Fly (as in Will this idea fly? Will it be accepted/successful?)
Vulgar/Emphatic (Usually describing inadequacy):
- Is shit / Is dogshit / Is crap (Vulgar, means very poor quality)
- Doesn't amount to jack shit (Vulgar, means worthless or utterly inadequate)
Milder/Formal:
- Is inadequate / Is insufficient
- Falls short of expectations
- Does not meet the criteria/requirements
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal to semi-formal.
- It can sound a bit folksy or slightly dated, but it's widely understood.
- Commonly used in performance reviews or evaluations in a less formal way.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- The connection between mustard (the condiment) and meeting a standard is entirely idiomatic and non-literal. This can be very confusing for learners without explanation.
Examples
- We tested the prototype, but it didn't quite cut the mustard.
- He's a nice guy, but as a team leader, he just doesn't cut the mustard.
- Do you think this old laptop will cut the mustard for video editing?
Dialogue
Manager: What did you think of the candidate we interviewed yesterday?
Team Lead: He had some good ideas, but his technical skills didn't really cut the mustard for this role.
Manager: Hmm, okay. That matches my impression too. Let's keep looking.
Social Media Examples
- Forum post: Looking for a budget graphics card. Does the RX 6600 still cut the mustard for 1080p gaming in 2024? #PCgaming #hardware
- Tweet: Tried the viral recipe hack... honestly, it didn't cut the mustard. Tasted better the original way. #fail #foodie
Response Patterns
- Agreement (often negative): No, it really doesn't cut the mustard.
- Disagreement: I disagree, I think it cuts the mustard perfectly well.
- Seeking reasons: Why doesn't it cut the mustard? What's wrong with it?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Discussing the reasons for inadequacy (What standards does it fail to meet?).
- Suggesting alternatives or improvements (We need to find something that *does* cut the mustard.).
- Defending the person or thing being evaluated.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- It's used to evaluate something against a standard, not to start a conversation.
Intonation
- When used negatively, stress often falls on DOESN'T, CUT, and MUSTARD. It simply DOESN'T CUT the MUSTARD.
- When positive, it's usually more neutral: Yeah, I think it'll cut the mustard.
Generation Differences
- More commonly heard from older generations (40+), but generally understood by younger people, especially the negative form.
Regional Variations
- Originated in American English but is understood and used in other regions like the UK, Canada, and Australia.