| MUSTARD | To cut the ___ is to meet the expectations or reach the desired standard |
| MAKETHEGRADE | Reach the desired standard (4,3,5) |
| HEELS | To "lay by the ____" is to put (someone) in fetters |
| EVENTUATE | It will turn out that Aunt Eve is to meet the little alien (9) |
| GOTHROUGH | Suffer or reach the next round? (2,7) |
| FOUND | (and 6 Across) Dating fun now turns out to be below the desired standard (5,7) |
| INSOMNIAC | Is unable to sleep, as they indicated contrary murderer is to meet doctor to get snip, in short |
| SATISFY | Meet the expectations, ... the criteria |
| MISS | A failure to attain, catch, hit or reach; a flop, as opposed to a smash; or, a title corresponding to "mademoiselle" (4) |
| LIVEUPTO | Meet the expectations of |
| COMINGUPSHOR | Failing to meet expectations, or what this answer is |
| IMPS | The Prime Minister is to meet with some really wicked ones |
| RAISEDTHEBAR | Elevated expectations ... or what this puzzle's maker did to five answers in this puzzle? |
| GIVEUPALLHOPE | Overlook everything to do with Great Expectations or completely lose heart (4,2,3,4) |
| EXERCISE | Reading is to the mind what ___ is to the body: Joseph Addison (8) |
| CORD | Cut the ___ (start to act independently) |
| DEMON | Don is to meet me and he's so wicked! |
| IMMENSE | First person is to meet people on empty stage, which should be huge |
| SYMPATHISE | Understand extremely shifty parliamentarian at hospital is to meet middlemen |
| PIP | Hero of Great Expectations or any of Gladys Knight's backup singers |
