make the grade
/ˌmeɪk ðə ˈɡreɪd/NEUTRAL · C1
Meaning
to be good enough to succeed
Examples
- 1Only three of the twenty singers made the grade for the final round.
- 2He trained hard, but his cooking didn't make the grade at the top restaurant.
- 3Leo applied to join the orchestra, but his playing didn't quite make the grade.
- 4If the new trainee makes the grade, she'll get a permanent contract in June.
- 5Do you think my essay will make the grade for the writing competition?
Grammar
make is irregular: made, made. Often used in the negative: didn't make the grade.
More idioms about success
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →a flash in the pana success that happens once and does not lastriding highbeing very successful at the momentcome up trumpsto succeed or help when people did not expect itgo belly upto fail, especially as a businesslearn the hard wayto find something out through your own mistakesget off the groundto start successfully
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
Here you get a couple of questions. The app gives you 16 practice modes, native equivalents and spaced repetition that tells you when it’s time to refresh.
