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Glite Dictionary
to throw down a challenge

to throw down a challenge

1 5.4
Openly invite someone to compete with you
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : lanzar un desafío
  • During the meeting, she threw down a challenge to her colleagues to improve their sales numbers.

Examples

  • The coach threw down a challenge to the players to win the championship this season.

  • (Note: Keith Law threw down this challenge on Baseball Today on Wednesday, although --

    Blog text (14)

  • I literally cannot wait to see what she and Rob come up with next; it's like she's throwing down a challenge to Bai and all of my other fug heroes.

    Blog text (3)

  • He decided to throw down a challenge to anyone who doubted his skills in the upcoming competition.

Synonyms

to dare
vsto throw down a challenge
332 2.4

To challenge someone to do something risky or embarrassing

focuses on inviting contest or confrontation rather than provoking risky acts
to throw down the gauntlet
vsto throw down a challenge
4 7.7

To openly challenge someone in front of others

is more general and may not be public or overtly bold
to double dog dare
vsto throw down a challenge
  • Baby Talk
1 8.3

Challenge someone playfully so they feel they cannot refuse to do something

is more serious, aiming for real competition or confrontation
to call out
vsto throw down a challenge
  • Archaic
9.9

Challenge someone to a duel because of an insult

is used widely for many contests, not limited to duels

Antonyms

to back down
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

to concede
49 4.9

To accept that you have lost a contest or election

How Challenging

call-out
7.8
to throw down a challenge
  • Informal
1 5.4
to challenge
355 3.0
match
517 1.4

Surface Forms

throw down a challenge infinitive
throwing down a challenge present participle
throws down a challenge third person singular
threw down a challenge past
thrown down a challenge past participle

Morphology

throw + down + a + challenge

The noun 'challenge' (a call to compete) is transparent, but the verb phrase 'throw down' is used metaphorically here to mean 'issue' or 'provoke' rather than its literal sense of throwing something downward. A B1 learner who knows the constituents could probably infer 'to issue a challenge' from context, but the phrasal/metaphorical use is not fully predictable from the parts alone.

Etymology

The phrase throw down a challenge may come from an old custom of physically throwing down a glove or small object in front of someone to say 'fight me'. That strong image of dropping something to invite a contest explains why the phrase now means 'to ask someone to compete'.