passed muster

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passed muster" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has met a certain standard or passed a test of quality or approval. Example: "The proposal was reviewed by the committee and ultimately passed muster, allowing the project to move forward."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

One guy passed muster.

The New York Times

None passed muster, until recently.

The New York Times

The pizza passed muster.

The New York Times - Food

Both passed muster.

The New York Times

Only six passed muster.

The New Yorker

The cheesecake was creamy and passed muster.

The New York Times

Not every name passed muster, however.

The New York Times

Reader, she passed muster — but remains puzzled.

The New York Times

The Pennsylvania law, he said, passed muster.

The New York Times

The program passed muster, too.

The New York Times

I just about passed muster.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passed muster" when you want to convey that something has successfully met the required standards or expectations. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "pass muster" when referring to a past event; instead, use the past tense form, "passed muster".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passed muster" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject has met the required standards or criteria. Ludwig AI shows that it's commonly used to express approval or acceptance after evaluation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "passed muster" is a commonly used expression that signifies something has met the required standards or expectations. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently appears in news and media, as well as in formal and business contexts. When using "passed muster", ensure you're referring to a past event to maintain the correct verb tense. If you seek alternatives, consider phrases such as "met the requirements" or "gained approval" to convey similar meanings. Remember that while versatile, the phrase maintains a neutral to slightly formal tone, making it suitable for various professional and informative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Met the requirements

Focuses on fulfilling specific criteria rather than a general assessment.

Satisfied the criteria

Similar to meeting requirements, but may imply a more rigorous evaluation.

Gained approval

Highlights the act of being officially sanctioned or endorsed.

Was accepted

Indicates a general agreement or welcoming into a group or situation.

Was deemed satisfactory

Emphasizes that something has been judged as adequate or acceptable.

Received endorsement

Emphasizes a more formal or public declaration of support.

Held up to examination

Implies that the item or candidate has been examined closely and found acceptable.

Withstood scrutiny

Focuses on surviving a detailed and critical examination.

Made the grade

Conveys that something has achieved the necessary standard to pass.

Was given the green light

Suggests permission to proceed, often in a project or initiative.

FAQs

How can I use "passed muster" in a sentence?

You can use "passed muster" to indicate that something has been approved or has met a certain standard. For instance, "The proposal "passed muster" after several revisions".

What is a good alternative to "passed muster"?

Alternatives to "passed muster" include phrases like "met the requirements", "gained approval", or "was accepted", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "pass muster" instead of "passed muster"?

The correct form depends on the tense. Use "pass muster" for present or future tense, and "passed muster" for past tense. For example, "The design must pass muster before it can be implemented," but "The design "passed muster" yesterday".

What does it mean when something "passes muster"?

When something "passes muster", it means that it has been deemed satisfactory or acceptable after being examined or evaluated. It implies that the item or idea has met the required standards or criteria.