English

Verb

to cut the mustard ‎(third-person singular simple present cuts the mustard, present participle cutting the mustard, simple past and past participle cut the mustard)

1. (idiomatic) To suffice; to be good or effective enough.

   Give me the bigger hammer. This little one just doesn't cut the mustard.

Usage notes

• This idiom usually appears in negative polarity contexts: “doesn't cut the mustard”, “can't cut the mustard”, and so on.

Synonyms

• (be good enough): hack it, pass muster, be up to par, be up to snuff

Translations

References

• "Cut the mustard" in Michael Quinion, Ballyhoo, Buckaroo, and Spuds, 2004.