pass muster

Idioms and Phrases

Meet a required standard, as in That yard cleanup won't pass muster with Mom . This expression originally meant “to undergo a military review without censure,” muster referring to an assembling of troops for inspection or a similar purpose. [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Her deeply skeptical views of most U.S. foreign policy, including support for Ukraine, sympathy for dictators like Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad in Syria and embrace of various conspiracy theories has earned her many critics who say that she would not pass muster in a Senate confirmation process.

From Salon

If the hosts win to prove their mettle and pass muster, the All Blacks may find Test rugby's top tier, like many exclusive clubs, operates a one-in, one-out policy.

From BBC

The project so far has failed to pass muster with city planning leaders, who say Pustilnikov hasn’t provided all the details about the project that the city requires to consider approval.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite Alito's excuse that it was his wife who is "fond of flying flags," one of his former law clerks says that his explanation doesn't pass muster.

From Salon

Both sides recognized that previous proposals by Skydance — joined by RedBird Capital Partners and KKR — would not pass muster with shareholders, including those beyond the Redstone family who hold voting A-class shares, knowledgeable people have said.

From Los Angeles Times