barely made the cut

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "barely made the cut" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something just met the minimum requirements or standards needed to be accepted or included. Example: "After a tough selection process, she barely made the cut for the final team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

These barely made the cut, so I added essay completion day to the shortlist.

Independent

Woods barely made the cut here last year, and he appeared to be out of contention.

The New York Times - Sports

Phil Mickelson, who has won the last two tournaments here, barely made the cut at 140 after shooting a 73.

The New York Times - Sports

Actually, wait: It was only the second mass shooting this year, and it barely made the cut.

The Washington Post

Leonard, who barely made the cut, skyrocketed into contention with a splendid round that he will not soon forget.

The New York Times - Sports

Sigel, who barely made the cut at nine-over 149, tied the Senior Open record with a six-under 64.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

And while Lamar's clip for "Alright" is stunning and urgent, it just barely made the cut-off date (eligibility was July 2014 to July 2015), making a video of the year nomination feel a bit premature as we continue to unpack his work.

Los Angeles Times

"On quality standards, Tata barely makes the cut".

The New York Times

He shot an 11-over 81 after struggling through rounds of 74 and 76 to barely make the cut.

The New York Times - Sports

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, traded on the New York Stock Exchange and known as Farmer Mac, barely makes the cut of the nation's largest 2,000 companies, ranked by market capitalization.

The New York Times

Still, Garcia, who shot a 65 Saturday and a 68 today after barely making the cut, was pleased with his best finish of the year.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely made the cut" to illustrate situations where someone or something narrowly meets the required standard or qualification. It's effective for conveying suspense or a close call.

Common error

Avoid using "barely made the cut" when the achievement was clearly superior or easily attained. This phrase is best reserved for situations involving a narrow margin of success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely made the cut" functions as an idiomatic expression, typically used as a predicate within a sentence. It signifies achieving a minimum standard or qualification, often implying a narrow margin. Ludwig's examples highlight usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

40%

General

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "barely made the cut" describes a situation where someone or something has only just met the minimum requirements. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly in News & Media and sports contexts. While versatile, it’s most impactful when highlighting a close call. Alternatives such as "narrowly qualified" or "just scraped through" can offer nuanced variations. Use this phrase to convey a sense of suspense and marginal success in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

narrowly qualified

Emphasizes the small margin by which someone met the requirements.

barely qualified

Focuses on the minimum qualification being met.

just scraped through

Highlights the difficulty and close call in succeeding.

squeaked in

Suggests a tight fit and a bit of luck was involved.

got in by the skin of their teeth

Idiomatic expression for a very close call.

made it by a hair's breadth

Implies an extremely small margin of success.

just about managed to

Highlights the effort needed to achieve the outcome.

scarcely succeeded

Emphasizes the difficulty and near failure.

almost didn't make it

Focuses on the possibility of failure.

slipped through

Suggests avoiding scrutiny while succeeding.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "barely made the cut"?

It means they only just managed to meet the minimum requirement to be included or successful, indicating a narrow margin.

Is "barely made the cut" formal or informal?

It is generally considered to be neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it is more common in news and sports reporting.

What can I say instead of "barely made the cut"?

You can use alternatives like "narrowly qualified", "just scraped through", or "squeaked in" depending on the context.

How is "barely made the cut" different from "easily made the cut"?

"Barely made the cut" implies a close call and minimal success, while "easily made the cut" suggests a comfortable and superior achievement. The former emphasizes the difficulty, while the latter highlights competence.