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Glite Dictionary
to pick up the gauntlet

to pick up the gauntlet

1 8.6
To accept a challenge and try to meet it
  • idiom
  • Informal
: aceptar el desafío
  • G-men all over the country have picked up the gauntlet flung down by the outlaws and the wanton murderers.

Rather pick up the gauntlet and do things better.

Examples

  • What are the chances that you would whine and cry if they decided to pick up the gauntlet you threw down?

    Blog text (24)

  • She knew the project would be difficult, but she was ready to pick up the gauntlet and prove her commitment.

  • Rather pick up the gauntlet and do things better.

    Variety

  • Think twice, Sire, before you pick up the gauntlet.

    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

  • Hayes is morphing into a corporate pundit, but other journalists will pick up the gauntlet.

    Blog text (12)

  • Now, to go into my expectations and warrantless future thoughts, I fully expect that Valve, being the champions they are, will pick up the gauntlet and us PC L4D players will be surprised.

    Blog text (11)

  • After hearing the challenge from his rival, he decided to pick up the gauntlet and show his skills in the arena.

  • When the organization called for volunteers to address local issues, many community members were eager to pick up the gauntlet and make a difference.

Synonyms

to rise to the challenge
vsto pick up the gauntlet
6 4.2

Face a difficult task and succeed at it

involves accepting and attempting the task even if success is not guaranteed
to take on the challenge
vsto pick up the gauntlet
3 3.2

To accept a difficult task to test yourself

is about accepting and actively trying to meet the task rather than just agreeing
to take up the gauntlet
vsto pick up the gauntlet
  • Informal
1 8.1

To accept a public challenge to show you will compete

is used for accepting a task in general not only public confrontations
to take a dare
vsto pick up the gauntlet
1 5.6

To accept and try something difficult or risky that someone challenges you to do

is used for accepting a broader difficult task not only a private provoked risk
to take the challenge head-on
vsto pick up the gauntlet
  • Informal
3.9

To face a difficult problem directly and work hard to solve it

focuses on accepting and attempting the task rather than only the direct approach

Antonyms

to back down
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

How Willing

to pick up the gauntlet
  • Informal
1 8.6

Surface Forms

pick up the gauntlet infinitive
picked up the gauntlet past
picked up the gauntlet past participle
picking up the gauntlet present participle
picks up the gauntlet third person singular

Morphology

pick + up + the + gauntlet

If a learner knows 'pick'/'pick up' as 'take/assume' and 'gauntlet' as 'a challenge', the meaning 'accept a challenge' follows directly from combining the parts. While 'gauntlet' as 'challenge' is somewhat idiomatic/dated, given that constituent sense the composition is predictable and follows common 'take up a challenge' patterns.

Etymology

Pick up the gauntlet comes from old fights between knights: one knight would throw down his heavy glove, a gauntlet, to challenge another, and the other knight would pick up the glove to show he accepted the fight. That's why today the phrase means 'to accept a challenge'.