Cut the mustard?

[bartholomew]

Hi guys!

I have problems with this expression. I rougghly know what it means (to succeed), but do not know when and how to use it.

Could you give one or two example sentences that illustrate the meaning?

ta

[jno]

it's not quite 'to succeed' but 'to be good enough'. I've been appointed managing director, but I wonder if I'll cut the mustard.

[danube]

To have the ability to do what's necessary. One might say, 'He didn't cut much mustard'. It's an American phrase from the turn of 19th century when 'mustard' was slang for 'the real thing' or 'the genuine article'.

Incidentally, Mr. Colman made his fortune by people leaving their mustard on the side of the dinner plate!!

[Ouisch]

"We gave him a two-week tryout as supervisor, but he just didn't cut the mustard, so we had to replace him."

"They didn't have the A1 widget in stock, so I bought an A2, but it doesn't cut the mustard. Guess I'll have to return it after all."

[solera]

cut the mustard refers to planting mustard seed cutting the resulting plant and turning it into the soil as green manuring, in other words knowing enough to invigorate the soil and therefore increase the business