Yes, I Live With My Parents...

Tonight my mom asked me where the phrase "cut the mustard" originated from. My stepdad poured me a glass of 2004 Bogle Phantom--a lovely old vine zin, petite syrah and mourvedre blend--while he roasted lamb, and I quickly searched online for my mom's request, telling her of my discoveries of the many theories of the phrase.

From this, she proceeded to launch into a story my grandmother used to tell her about making mustard as a girl, and how her grandfather suffered from the effects of mustard gas used in WWI.

"But you know, your step-father also has his own version of the phrase he likes to use," she said.

They both giggled. I paused, with due trepidation.

"Okay," I finally said. "What's the phrase?"

"I may be too old to cut the mustard," he said, grinning. "But I ain't too old to lick the jar."