The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 plus 2 letter word MEASURE UP
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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More clues leading to the result MEASURE UP
- Step ahead, fill the bill
- Perhaps fingers in the air meet requirements
- A résumé may describe the way to reach a certain standard!
- Be sufficiently competent to take dimensions
- A supreme blending with main ingredient from Burgundy — cut the mustard?
- A supreme little university managed to meet the required standard
- . Parliamentarian considering irregular urea use to fit the bill
- Engineer certain to take a northern state to reach a high standard
- Edit a resume to fully meet the bar
- Altitude? Cut it
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "to reach a certain standard" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case to reach a certain standard = measure up.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.