litmus test
33
5.1
- noun
- /ˈlɪt.məs tɛst/
- Informal
- Many believe that a candidate's approach to climate change is a litmus test for their suitability in the upcoming election.
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Watch on YouTubeBut again, I my litmus test is, are my clients calling me?
- But again, I my litmus test is, are my clients calling me?
- And I love that as a litmus test for how good is the thing that I sell.
- What a great litmus test for whether or not something is racist.
- Now, again, the next thing we layer on that is the sort of the litmus test of how do you feel?
- And it's become more of a GOP litmus test issue.
- And that is our litmus test is how does a theatre full of people respond to it?
- That to me is a pretty big litmus test for whether people are going to struggle in life or not.
- Now I use scoops of whey protein or pure protein sources as a good litmus test for is this a pure or less pure protein source?
- And the litmus test is sort of introverts think to talk and extroverts talk to think, right?
- Like, do you feel like you have a good set of guidelines or an internal litmus test for, you know, sharing in a more responsible way?
- And the fact that somebody, you claim somebody told you something, frankly just doesn't pass the litmus test for us.
- If if a great litmus test on whether or not you're a good coaches, how many of the kids on your team came back to play the sport next year?
Examples
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On Friday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg condemned that sort of litmus test for businesses.
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One does not have to pass some sort of litmus test to be a writer or a citizen journalist.
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And I love that as a litmus test for how good is the thing that I sell.
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And political reality sometimes means that a litmus test is not a good thing.
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And that is our litmus test is how does a theatre full of people respond to it?
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Judges elected by the legislature or appointed are generally subject to various political litmus tests.
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Friends who care about you on a bad day, that's the real litmus test of a real friend with whom you can have meaningful conversation.
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The litmus test for this ad is whether it could be comfortably run in Joplin or Oak Creek.
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And the West, China knows, sees Hong Kong as a litmus test of China's intentions and willingness to honor its commitments.
Academic text (1999) -
Within the Muslim community, the hijab has often been used as a litmus test to determine the piety of Muslim women.
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Synonyms
∞
1.0
To check something to see if it works or has a problem
∞
1.6
An agreed level of quality or rule for judging something
222
6.1
A rule or standard used to judge and choose something
17
3.9
The best and most trusted example that people use to judge other things
13
7.5
A way to judge how good or true something is
12
3.9
A way to judge how good or successful something is
4
4.1
An important test that shows if something really works
1
9.3
A rule used to judge or choose something
How Conclusive
10
3.7
- Informal
33
5.1
∞
1.0
- Specialized
83
3.7
58
3.4
985
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines 'litmus' (a dye used to indicate acidity) with 'test', so the figurative sense 'a decisive indicator' is a direct, systematic extension of the literal chemical test. For a learner who knows both constituent words, the metaphorical shift is predictable and the meaning is readily inferable.
Etymology
Litmus test in the figurative sense comes from that clear color change: because litmus gives a fast, obvious result, people call a single clear question or factor a 'litmus test' when it will 'show' if someone or something meets a standard. So it now means one simple thing that decides acceptance.