up to snuff adjective2 •(slang) Adequate; of acceptable quality; satisfying an appropriate standard.About 40% of U.S. counties lack full-time public-health service. . . . Many registered hospitals are not up to snuff. — 1945 •(slang, old-fashioned) Mentally alert, shrewd, savvy."Dombey," says the Major, with appropriate action, "that is the hand of Joseph Bagstock: of plain old Joey B. . . . a rough and tough, and possibly an up-to-snuff, old vagabond." — 1846 formsmore up to snuff · most up to snuff