To do a good job; to come up to a required standard; to succeed. It often is put negatively, as someone cannot cut the mustard, that is, is not performing adequately.
What does mustard mean in slang?
He's mustard, for example, means “He's great.” It's this idea, of mustard as “excellent” or “great,” that seems to be at work in cut the mustard.
Why do we say cut the mustard?
WHEN MUSTARD was one of the main crops in East Anglia, it was cut by hand with scythes, in the same way as corn. The crop could grow up to six feet high and this was very arduous work, requiring extremely sharp tools. When blunt they "would not cut the mustard".
Does cut the mustard mean fart?
rude slang To fart. I can't believe you cut the mustard in the car. Now we have to smell it all the way home!
Where did the phrase put some mustard on it come from?
In a nutshell refers to something that's “put concisely,” in just a few words. The phrase goes all the way back to antiquity when the Roman historian Pliny described a copy of The Iliad written in such tiny script that it could fit inside a nutshell.
37 related questions foundWhat does the term Bob's your uncle mean?
Definition of and Bob's your uncle
British, informal. —used to say that something is easy to do or use Just complete the form, pay the fee, and Bob's your uncle!
What does the phrase pass muster mean?
Soon enough pass the muster started to drop its the, and pass muster began to be used in general and non-military senses, with the meaning it has today: “to gain approval or acceptance.” This sort of potted history of a word or phrase is very satisfying, since it is not immediately apparent to many people why we use ...
What does the phrase no dice mean?
No, certainly not; also, impossible. For example, Anthony wanted to borrow my new coat, but Mom said no dice, or We tried to rent the church for the wedding, but it's no go for the date you picked, or Jim asked Dad to help pay for the repairs, but Dad said no soap.
What is the meaning of the idiom last straw?
Definition of the final/last straw
: the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc. It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the last straw.
What is the meaning of chip of the old block?
Definition of chip off the old block
An expression used of people who closely resemble their parents in some way: “Mark just won the same sailboat race his father won twenty years ago; he's a chip off the old block.”
Why is it called Dressed to the nines?
So in the end, “dressed to the nines” is most likely simply an offshoot of the previous “to the nines” expression, more or less meaning “perfect” or “to perfection.” Where “to the nines” came from exactly is a bit of a mystery. The “Nine Muses” origin theory seems to have the strongest case.
What does the idiom can't hold a candle to mean?
If someone or something is just not as good enough when compared to another, it is said that it can't hold a candle to the far superior, much better version.
What does I wont touch him with a bargepole mean?
phrase. If you say that you wouldn't touch something with a barge pole, you mean that you would not want to have anything to do with it, either because you do not trust it, or because you do not like it. [British, informal]regional note: in AM, use wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole.
Does not pass muster meaning?
Meet a required standard, as in That yard cleanup won't pass muster with Mom. This expression originally meant “to undergo a military review without censure,” muster referring to an assembling of troops for inspection or a similar purpose. [ Late 1500s]
What does it mean to take with a pinch of salt?
Meaning. If you take what someone says with a grain of salt, or with a pinch of salt, you have doubts about the truth or accuracy of what they say.
What is the meaning of when pig fly?
Definition of when pigs fly
—used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.
What if I was suicidal and that was my last straw meaning?
Last Straw Meaning
Definition: The final problem or negative event in a string of bad events that makes a person decide they can't take any more.
What does the phrase screw the pooch mean?
Meaning "to commit an egregious blunder," the phrase "screw the pooch" may not come up very often on news shows, but it has been piquant slang for several decades. Many Americans were introduced to the expression in "The Right Stuff," Tom Wolfe's 1979 account of the country's first astronauts in the Mercury Project.
What does beating around the bush mean?
to avoid giving a definite answer or position. Please stop beating around the bush and tell me the full story.
What does the idiom bought the farm mean?
What is meant by the phrase “bought the farm”? Answer. It comes from a 1950s-era Air Force term meaning “to crash” or “to be killed in action,” and refers to the desire of many wartime pilots to stop flying, return home, buy a farm, and live peaceably ever after.
What does give them the runaround mean?
Definition of give (someone) the runaround
informal. : to fail to give (someone) information or help that he or she needs by not answering questions or by not dealing with the problem directly Their customer representatives keep giving me the runaround.
What does fannys your aunt mean?
A phrase with the same meaning is 'Fanny's your aunt'. When used together it means complete or the whole lot. If Bob's your uncle and Fanny's your aunt you've got a full set of relatives and you are complete.
Why do we say Fanny's your aunt?
Used as a humorous response to the phrase "Bob's your uncle," which is used to emphasize how easily or quickly something can be done. Primarily heard in UK, Australia.
Where does happy as Larry come from?
Larry Foley was an australian boxer who never lost a fight. His last fight was in the 1870's, he was paid the vast sum of £1000 and won the fight - "hence as happy as Larry".
What does ten-foot pole mean?
Definition of not touch (someone or something) with a ten-foot pole. US, informal. : to refuse to go near or become involved with (someone or something) That investment is too risky. I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
