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Glite Dictionary
to make the grade

to make the grade

12 4.1
To reach the level needed to succeed
  • idiom
: alcanzar el nivel
  • With hard work and dedication, she will surely make the grade in her final exams.

Yeah, actually, the day that we did not get picked up for making the grade, the offer came in for cheers.

Examples

Synonyms

to pass
vsto make the grade
476 1.0

To succeed in a test or exam

refers to overall ability to succeed in a field, not only test success
to measure up
vsto make the grade
  • Informal
40 3.7

To be as good as expected or needed

focuses more on broad success in a field than just meeting expectations
to measure up to
vsto make the grade
18 3.8

To be good enough to meet a standard or expectation

is broader meaning long-term success in a field rather than one strict standard

Antonyms

to fall short
91 3.9

Fail to reach the level people expect

How Good

master
527 4.2
to excel
81 3.7
to make the grade
12 4.1
to pass
476 1.0
to fail
725 1.0

Surface Forms

make the grade infinitive
made the grade past
made the grade past participle
making the grade present participle
makes the grade third person singular

Morphology

make + the + grade

The sense 'to reach the necessary standard' is directly derivable from combining 'make' (to achieve/reach) with 'grade' (a level or standard), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the idiomatic meaning. This follows a common verb + noun compositional pattern and has straightforward cross-linguistic parallels, making the expression transparent rather than highly idiomatic.

Etymology

Make the grade may come from old school or job marks: if you got the right grade you reached the required level and passed. So to make the grade now means 'to be good enough to succeed'.