How do you use "Make the cut" in a sentence?

Only twenty applicants out of two hundred made the cut. I trained all summer but still didn't make the cut for the varsity team. Does this design make the cut, or do we need to start over?

Make the cut

Q: What does "Make the cut" mean?

To meet the required standard; to qualify or be selected. Making the cut means you passed the threshold — you made the team, got into the program, or met the minimum standard. Not making the cut means you fell short. It's used in sports, school admissions, hiring, and any competitive selection process.

American Slang Term American ★★★★★ Very Common informal

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Meaning: To meet the required standard; to qualify or be selected.

达到要求的标准；合格或被选中。

Cumplir con el estándar requerido; clasificarse o ser seleccionado.

求められる基準を満たすこと。合格する、選ばれること。

요구되는 기준을 충족하는 것. 합격하거나 선발되는 것.

Making the cut means you passed the threshold — you made the team, got into the program, or met the minimum standard. Not making the cut means you fell short. It's used in sports, school admissions, hiring, and any competitive selection process.

达标意味着你通过了门槛——入选了队伍、被项目录取、或达到了最低标准。没达标意味着你没通过。这个词用于体育、学校录取、招聘以及任何竞争性的选拔过程。

Pasar el corte (make the cut) significa que has superado el umbral: has entrado en el equipo, te han admitido en el programa o has cumplido el estándar mínimo. No pasar el corte significa que no has llegado. Se usa en deportes, admisiones universitarias, contratación y cualquier proceso de selección competitivo.

「make the cut」は基準をクリアしたという意味だ——チームに入れた、プログラムに合格した、または最低基準を満たしたということ。「make the cut」できなかったは、基準に達しなかったということだ。スポーツ、入学試験、採用など、あらゆる競争的な選考場面で使われる。

'기준을 통과하다(make the cut)'는 합격선을 넘었다는 뜻이다 — 팀에 들었거나, 프로그램에 합격했거나, 최소 기준을 충족한 것이다. 통과하지 못했다는 것은 기준에 미치지 못했다는 뜻이다. 스포츠, 입학, 채용 등 모든 경쟁적 선발 과정에서 쓰인다.

Examples

Only twenty applicants out of two hundred made the cut.
两百名申请者中只有二十人入选了。
De doscientos candidatos, solo veinte pasaron el corte.
200人の応募者のうち、選ばれたのはわずか20人だった。
200명의 지원자 중 겨우 20명만 선발되었다.
I trained all summer but still didn't make the cut for the varsity team.
我练了整个夏天，但还是没能入选校队。
Entrené todo el verano pero aun así no fui seleccionado para el equipo titular.
夏中ずっと練習したのに、バーシティチームの選考には通らなかった。
여름 내내 연습했지만 그래도 대표팀 선발에 통과하지 못했다.
Does this design make the cut, or do we need to start over?
这个设计达标了吗？还是我们需要推倒重来？
¿Este diseño pasa el corte o necesitamos empezar de cero?
このデザインは基準をクリアしてる？それとも最初からやり直す必要がある？
이 디자인이 기준을 통과하나, 아니면 처음부터 다시 해야 해?

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: competition, selection, standards

Tone: competitive, hopeful

✓ Do Say

I hope my application makes the cut.
希望我的申请能通过筛选。
Espero que mi solicitud pase el corte.
自分の応募が選考を通るといいな。
내 지원서가 통과되길 바란다.
Not everyone is going to make the cut.
不是所有人都能达标的。
No todos van a pasar el corte.
全員が選ばれるわけじゃない。
모든 사람이 선발되는 건 아니야.

✗ Don't Say

Don't confuse with 'make a cut' (to reduce) — different meaning entirely
不要和'make a cut（削减）'混淆——含义完全不同
No lo confundas con 'make a cut' (hacer un recorte) — significan cosas completamente distintas
「make a cut」（削減する）と混同しないように——まったく異なる意味
'make a cut'(삭감하다)와 혼동하지 말 것——의미가 완전히 다르다

Origin & History

From American golf, where 'the cut' is the score threshold that determines which players advance to the final rounds of a tournament. Widely adopted in American English for any selection process.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal