Why do we say cut the mustard?

Possibly derived from the idiom ‘to pass muster’, an expression for assembling military troops for inspection. A troop who has achieved excellent performance in, for example, a room inspection, is allowed to skip, or “cut” having to stand a formal muster or formation and go on liberty early, etc.

Where does the phrase can’t cut the mustard come from?

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”.

What does mustard mean in slang?

The word mustard is used in several English idiomatic expressions and is also used as a (mainly British) slang term with several different meanings. For example, mustard can mean money. i.e. My girlfriend left me because I don’t earn enough mustard! It can also be used to replace the word good.

Where did cut the mustard originate?

A: The phrase “cut the mustard” originated in late 19th-century America. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as “slang (originally U.S.),” and says the noun “mustard” here means “something which adds piquancy or zest; that which sets the standard or is the best of anything.”

Whats cut the rug mean?

to dance in an energetic way
Definition of cut a rug

old-fashioned slang. : to dance in an energetic way He’s not young anymore, but he can still cut a rug on the dance floor.

What does too old to cut the mustard mean?

To cut the mustard is “to reach or surpass the desired standard or performance” or more generally “to succeed, to have the ability to do something.” For instance, Beyoncé really cut the mustard in her new song.

What does act the mustard mean?

cut the mustard, to

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. The term is American slang, and its origin is disputed.

What does it mean to not cut the mustard?

to not be as good as you should be. You have to be on form every week and people soon start noticing if you’re not cutting the mustard.

Where did the saying up to snuff come from?

Snuff was powdered tobacco inhaled through the nose. The phrase up to snuff comes from a playwright in the 1800s. He used it to describe someone as knowing what is going on or being well-informed or ‘in the know’. Over time the definition changed and now it more closely resembles the phrase up to scratch.

Is the saying cut the muster or cut the mustard?

The nonstandard form “pass the muster” may be influenced by the unrelated term “cut the mustard,” which has a similar meaning. Don’t believe those who insist that the latter phrase is a mistake for “cut the muster.” And the expression is definitely not “pass the mustard.”

Where did the phrase at sixes and sevens come from?

The term at sixes and sevens goes back at least to the 1300s. Originally, the phrase was rendered on six and seven, and referred to a dice game where throwing on a six or seven meant risking one’s entire fortune. Until the 1600s, on sixes and sevens meant to take a careless risk.

What does got my head in the clouds mean?

Be absentminded or impractical, as in She must have had her head in the clouds when she made the reservations, because they never heard of us, or He’ll never be able to run the business—he’s always got his head in the clouds.

What is the meaning of the idiom feeling under the weather?

Indisposed, unwell: “The day after the big party, Jay had to call in sick, saying he was feeling under the weather.”

What does bolt from the blue mean?

a complete surprise
Definition of bolt from the blue

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

What does a month of Sundays mean?

an extremely long time
Definition of a month of Sundays

informal. : an extremely long time I haven’t talked to her in a month of Sundays.

What does kick the bucket mean?

When you kick the bucket, you die. Kick the bucket is an extremely informal way to describe death.

What does a fish out of water mean?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

What is the meaning of the idiom put your foot down?

1 – To put your foot down – To act firmly / To tell someone strongly that they must do something or that they must stop doing something: “You can’t just let him do what he wants, you’ll have to put your foot down.” 2 – To put your foot down – To drive faster.

What does a bear with a sore head mean?

[mainly British] to behave in a very bad-tempered and angry way.

What does Ants in Your Pants mean?

anxious
1. Be extremely restless, uneasy, impatient, or anxious, as in This child just can’t sit still; she must have ants in her pants. This rhyming idiom calls up a vivid image of what might cause one to be jumpy. [ Slang; 1920s]

What’s the meaning of grin and bear it?

Definition of grin and bear it

: to accept something that one does not like because there is no choice I don’t agree with their decision, but all I can do is grin and bear it.

What chew the fat means?

to engage in casual or rambling conversation. The friends chewed the fat late into the night.