To meet the required standard; to be adequate or satisfactory for a particular purpose.
To perform competently or successfully; to be effective or up to expectations.
2.
USUKinformalcolloquialdated
Used in negative constructions to indicate failure to meet expectations or to be inadequate (e.g., 'cannot cut the mustard').
Examples:
EN: But I couldn't cut the mustard so the guy gave me the gate.
ES: Pero no pude cortar la mostaza... entonces el tipo me dio la puerta.
EN: The truth doesn't cut the mustard with everyone.
ES: Tiene malos antecedentes. Y la verdad no es igual para todo el mundo.
EN: She wrote, "Boss Finley can't cut the mustard."
ES: Escribió: "El Jefe Finley no está a la altura".
EN: "Miss Lucy is available to any punk's got $5 and can cut the mustard."
ES: "Lucy está libre para un tipejo con 5 dólares y que esté a la altura".
EN: There's a law that says when old folks can't cut the mustard any more, you can make 'em let go, whether they like it or not.
ES: Hay una ley que dice que cuando los viejos ya no dan para más puedes obligarles a irse, les guste o no.
EN: Maybe he couldn't cut the mustard.
ES: Tal vez el fallo se encontrara cerca de casa.
EN: That he comes with grade A references and has cut the mustard just fine around here for one solid year.
ES: Que tiene buenas referencias y lleva un año aquí sin problemas.
EN: I'm more interested in somebody who can cut the mustard.
ES: Yo prefiero a alguien que saque las castañas del fuego.
EN: Guess you couldn't cut the mustard?
ES: Bueno, ya sabes de dónde saca Abraham la mostaza.
EN: And if you don't wanna be a man, if you don't wanna cut the mustard crawl out of here right now with your tail between your legs because we don't want you!
ES: Si no quieren ser hombres, si no quieren rendir satisfactoriamente salgan arrastrándose de aquí con la cola entre las piernas iporque no los queremos a ustedes!
EN: Lead-ins are for guys who can't cut the mustard.
ES: Eso es para los que no pueden.
EN: Can't cut the mustard!
ES: Te falta coraje!
EN: If you're too old to cut the mustard, you can still lick the jar, right?
ES: Si estás muy viejo para cortar la mostaza, lame la jarra.
EN: I don't think this puppy is going to cut the mustard.
ES: Este cachorrito de motor no sirve para nada.
EN: But I wonder if that rabbit will be able to cut the mustard.
ES: Pero me pregunto si ese conejo podrá lograrlo.