keen as mustard

keen as mustard

Very enthusiastic and excited (about or to do something). Hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. There are plenty of talented kids around this area who are keen as mustard to be on the team, so we should have no problem filling the spot. Silverstone plays the hardened veteran detective, while Ridley plays the keen-as-mustard rookie assigned to be her partner.
See also: keen, mustard
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

keen as mustard

mainly BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED
If someone is keen as mustard they are very eager to do something. I have an adult pupil who scored very low in assessments but is keen as mustard. Note: You can also describe someone as mustard-keen. Sir Richard was mustard-keen to say his bit. Note: `Keen' means enthusiastic, but is also used to mean sharp when referring to the blade or cutting edge of a tool or weapon. An acidic or sour taste can also be referred to as sharp, so enthusiasm is being likened to the sharp taste or `edge' given to food by mustard.
See also: keen, mustard
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

keen as mustard

extremely eager or enthusiastic. British informal
Keen is used here to mean ‘operating on the senses like a sharp instrument’.
See also: keen, mustard
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

(as) ˌkeen as ˈmustard

(British English, informal) wanting very much to do well at something; enthusiastic: She’s as keen as mustard. She always gets here first in the morning and she’s the last to leave work in the evening.
See also: keen, mustard
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a round robin
  • round robin
  • eleventh hour
  • heads I win, tails you lose
  • black market
  • a light touch
  • first hand
  • rust bucket
  • good for nothing
  • good-for-nothing
References in periodicals archive
Keen as mustard, as the sub-title suggests, also prefers to blame the trials on Britain and, to a lesser extent, the United States, and tries to portray the Australians as hapless victims of foreign experimenters.
Bridget Goodwin, Keen as mustard: Britain's horrific chemical warfare experiments in Australia
"I've been riding out at Ballydoyle all week but I'm used to having eight rides a day, so I'm as keen as mustard to get out there.
Irish 1,000 Guineas: Oliver makes his debut
Karlsson an early birdie KEEN as mustard, if not keener, first to clock on in the clubhouse at 8am on Sunday, when R&A officials opened the tournament register, was Sweden's Robert Karlsson.
OpEN DIARY
BIRMINGHAM'S entrepreneurs are still as keen as mustard to prove their business potential, an industry dinner was told.
Fullrange Media's all the news
Russell, 35, is keen as mustard to work on the movie.
Russell set to rock if it's OK with wife
Q HOW did we come by the saying, "as keen as mustard?"
Question Time
The thing I remember about Bill was that he was keen as mustard to become a Glasgow councillor.
Ron Mackenna Column: Geeky Swinney challenger just won't fit the Bill
"He's still as keen as mustard and needs just three more League games to make 1,000, which is his driving ambition."
Hammers nail down Shilton, 46