up to snuff
idiom

- meeting the required standard

- up to the usual or required quality or standard

Merriam-Webster, Oxford English Dictionary

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PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase "up to snuff" emerged in early 19th-century Britain, originating from the fashionable practice of taking snuff—finely ground tobacco inhaled through the nose. During the Regency period (roughly 1811-1820), snuff-taking was considered a mark of sophistication among the upper classes, particularly gentlemen who would carry ornate snuffboxes and display elaborate rituals around the practice.

The expression initially meant being sharp-witted or alert, as snuff produced a stimulating effect. Someone who was "up to snuff" was knowledgeable about current affairs, aware of social nuances, and generally "in the know"—qualities demonstrated by those fashionable enough to participate in this refined habit.

By the mid-1800s, the meaning had broadened beyond personal alertness to encompass anything meeting expected standards of quality or performance. The tobacco practice itself gradually declined in popularity through the Victorian era, but the idiom remained firmly embedded in English, divorced from its original context.

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THE GRAMMAR GRAFFITISTS

Are you irritated by grammar and spelling that isn't UP TO SNUFF?

Ever since November 2014, an action group calling themselves "Acción Ortográfica" has been patrolling the streets of Quito, Ecuador, looking for graffiti in need of correction. Working at night they spray corrected grammatical versions beneath error-riddled texts.

In an anonymous conversation with Colors Magazine, the group defended their efforts, saying: "It's a public service and a moral obligation. We're against language vandalism and we won't give up until we see a society free of spelling mistakes".

It seems that even vandalism, when executed properly, demands certain standards.

Helga & Paul Smith

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QUOTE

"The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten." — Benjamin Franklin

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SYNONYMS

acceptable, adequate, appropriate, bears scrutiny, comes up to scratch, competent, cuts the mustard, decent, does the job (the trick), fills the bill, fit for purpose, good enough, hits the mark, holds water, makes the grade (the cut), measures up, meets expectations (requirements, the brief, the standard), on point, passes inspection (the test, muster), passable, qualifies, reasonable, respectable, rings true, satisfactory, serves the purpose, sound, stands the test, stands up to scrutiny, sufficient, suitable, ticks all the boxes, tolerable, up to par (to scratch, to standard, to the mark), UP TO SNUFF, within spec, works as intended

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation today, say something like:

"UP TO SNUFF used to mean good enough—now it barely keeps you in the game."

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THANKS to Hans for suggesting today’s phrase

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