passes muster

USAGE SUMMARY

"passes muster" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that meets a certain standard or is acceptable. For example: "The proposal passes muster with the committee." Alternative expressions include "meets the standard" and "is up to par."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It passes muster.

The New York Times

— that passes muster in court.

The New Yorker

It more than passes muster.

The Guardian - Music

So it passes muster here in my book".

The New York Times

A hundred and seventy-five?—that passes muster in court.

The New Yorker

At that time, if it passes muster, the inspector will assign it a new letter grade.

The New York Times

As a silly diversion for the silly season, it passes muster, but only just.

The New York Times

With no other broadly tested vaccine on the immediate horizon, we can hope Glaxo's passes muster.

The New York Times

My tablemate, in short, is an easily aggrieved classicist, and Karavitis passes muster with her.

The New York Times - Travel

It passes muster as a metaphor if not as a matter of demonstrable fact.

The New York Times

Let it be said, however, that as a classical ensemble, the quartet barely passes muster.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passes muster" when you want to convey that something has been formally evaluated and approved or meets a required standard. It's appropriate in contexts where a degree of scrutiny is implied.

Common error

Avoid using "passes muster" in very casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or stilted in everyday settings. Opt for simpler alternatives like "it's okay" or "it works" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passes muster" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It's used to express that something has met the required standards or has gained approval after scrutiny. As evidenced by the examples from Ludwig, it often appears in contexts involving evaluation or judgment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Arts

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passes muster" is a frequently used idiomatic expression that means something has been approved or has met the required standards after scrutiny. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its prevalence in news, formal, and business contexts. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to professional registers. When writing, remember to consider the level of formality and choose alternative phrases when a simpler term is more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meets the requirements

This alternative directly states that something fulfills necessary criteria, lacking the idiomatic flavor of the original phrase.

is acceptable

This option provides a general sense of approval, but does not necessarily imply a formal evaluation process.

is up to par

Implies a standard of quality is met, similar to "passes muster" but slightly more informal.

gains approval

Directly states that something receives a positive endorsement, but doesn't necessarily imply an evaluation.

gets the green light

This phrase indicates permission to proceed, suggesting a decision has been made in favor of something.

measures up

Indicates that something reaches a certain level or expectation, but is less formal.

is satisfactory

Indicates that something is adequate or good enough, but lacks the nuance of a formal assessment.

holds up

Suggests something withstands scrutiny or testing, maintaining its validity or quality.

is validated

This alternative suggests a more formal confirmation or verification process.

endures scrutiny

Focuses on the ability to withstand close examination, emphasizing resilience over simple acceptance.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "passes muster"?

When something "passes muster", it means that it has been approved or accepted, usually after being examined or tested to see if it meets certain standards or requirements.

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

You can use "passes muster" to indicate that something has met the necessary criteria. For example, "The new policy had to pass muster with the board of directors before it could be implemented."

Which is correct, "passes muster" or "past muster"?

"Passes muster" is the correct idiom. "Past muster" is not a recognized or correct form of this expression.

What are some alternatives to saying "passes muster"?

Alternatives to "passes muster" include phrases like "meets the requirements", "is acceptable", or "gets the green light", depending on the specific context.