cut the mustard，跟 cut 没关系，跟芥末也没关

还记得习语 cut sb some slack 和 cut the crap 的寓意吗？今天又带来一个包含 cut 但寓意又跟它没关系的习语 cut the mustard，而且跟芥末也没关系，千万别翻译成“切芥末”，可以意为“如期待的那么好，符合要求，成功”等，经常用于否定句中，寓意：

to succeed

成功

to come up to expectations

达到预期

to be competent enough

足够胜任

to be adequate enough to participate or compete

足以参加或竞争

to be up to the standard

达到标准

例如：

My neighbor had applied for the post of architect in a big project, but did not cut the mustard.

我的邻居申请了一个大项目的建筑师职位，但没有成功。

解析：

1、apply for 表示申请什么东西，通常是以书面形式。

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2、apply for 这个动作发生在过去时 did not cut 这个动作之前，所以往过去挪一个时态，就是过去完成时。

That boy wants to be the captain of the team, but does he cut the mustard?

那个男孩想当队长，但是他成功了吗？

I need a bigger knife for these large fruits; this one doesn't cut the mustard.

我需要一把更大的刀来切这些大水果，这把太小了不能用。

His friends and siblings helped him through this studies, but when it came to working, he couldn't cut the mustard.

他的朋友和兄弟姐妹们帮助他完成了这项研究，但说到工作，他却不合格。

解析：when it comes to (doing) sth. 表示“当涉及（做）某事的情况、事情或问题时”。

He was a great player, but he retired sometime ago. We'll have to see if he still cuts the mustard.

他是个伟大的球员，但他不久前退役了。我们得看看他是否还是我们所期待的那么好。