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

The field has produced only anecdotal or other evidence that does not pass muster in the scientific community.

From The Daily Beast

Whether or not their decisions would pass muster in a poll or focus group is precisely beside the point.

From The Daily Beast

Coakley says she backs Warren, who might just be too outspoken to pass muster with the Senate.

From The Daily Beast

Bruno was then introduced to each of the scouts, and they seemed to pass muster, for to each one he offered his paw.

From Project Gutenberg

A few other changes I was able to make without pausing, and I felt sure I could then pass muster.

From Project Gutenberg

It was, compared with the others, pretty good; but needed that comparison to make it pass muster.

From Project Gutenberg

A truly impressive spectacle would pass muster for the promised "field of May," and profoundly affect the minds of all present.

From Project Gutenberg

It would as readily pass muster for anxiety that he should have remembered something as that he shouldn't.

From Project Gutenberg