Whether it’s spicy, yellow, brown, honey, or whole grain, the phrase “cutting the mustard” suggests living up to expectations. The origins of this condiment-related idiom can be traced to the late 19th century, and variations are used in both positive and negative contexts.
For instance, someone who cuts to mustard performs adequately, while those who fail to cut the mustard are a major disappointment. Here’s a look at where the phrase originated and why we say it.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, some early printed examples of this idiom date back to the 1880s. In a June 1884 edition of San Francisco’s Daily Examiner, an article reads, “It is difficult to find men tall enough to see to cut mustard.” The author O. Henry later helped to popularize the idiom in a 1907 collection of short stories titled The Heart of the West: “I looked around and found a proposition that exactly cut the mustard.”
But we’re still left wondering why the phrase exists. One theory is that it’s a derivation of the phrase “pass muster,” which means “to gain acceptance” and has been used since the 16th century. But despite this theoretical connection, direct evidence is lacking.
Another theory relates to how “mustard” was historically used as a slang term. In the 17th century, most mustards were spicy or potent in flavor, and the word became slang for “powerful” or “enthusiastic.” By the early 20th century, “mustard” had evolved to mean “good,” “special,” or “as expected.” It’s entirely possible that “cut the mustard” came from this slang usage. However, it’s still only a theory, and it may fail to cut the mustard for anyone looking for a definitive answer.
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