on one's mettle — phrasal also upon one s mettle : in a state of being challenged or aroused to make one s best efforts the family business failed and put him on his mettle as a writer Van Wyck Brooks putting both major parties on their mettle John Lodge … Useful english dictionary
Mettle — Met tle, n. [E. metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. See {Metal}.] Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; usually in a… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
mettle — n. 1) to prove, show one s mettle 2) to put smb. on one s mettle * * * [metl] show one smettle to prove to put smb. on one s mettle mezzanine n (AE) [ first rows of a balcony in a theater ] in the mettle … Combinatory dictionary
mettle — /met l/, n. 1. courage and fortitude: a man of mettle. 2. disposition or temperament: a man of fine mettle. 3. on one s mettle, in the position of being incited to do one s best The loss of the first round put him on his mettle to win the match.… … Universalium
mettle — /ˈmɛtl / (say metl) noun 1. the characteristic disposition or temper: to try a person s mettle. 2. spirit; courage. –phrase 3. on one s mettle, incited to do one s best: *This put the old man on his mettle. –mary durack, 1959. {variant of metal} …
courage — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Lack of fear Nouns 1. courage, bravery, valor; boldness, strength; daring, gallantry, heroism, intrepidity; defiance, audacity; rashness, brinkmanship; confidence, self reliance; chivalry, prowess,… … English dictionary for students
Courage — (Roget s Thesaurus) >Absence of fear. < N PARAG:Courage >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 courage courage bravery valor Sgm: N 1 resoluteness resoluteness boldness &c. >Adj. Sgm: N 1 spirit spirit daring gallantry … English dictionary for students
Woodrow Wilson: The Fear of Monopoly — ▪ Primary Source The campaign of 1912 pitted four remarkable men against each other for the presidency, all of them with significant reform backgrounds. William Howard Taft, the incumbent, had the support of the regular Republicans… … Universalium
Resolution — (Roget s Thesaurus) < N PARAG:Resolution >N GRP: N 1 Sgm: N 1 determination determination will Sgm: N 1 iron will iron will unconquerable will Sgm: N 1 will of one s own will of one s own decision resolution Sgm: N 1 backbone backbone … English dictionary for students
courage — n Courage, mettle, spirit, resolution, tenacity are comparable when they mean a quality of mind or temperament which makes one resist temptation to give way in the face of opposition, danger, or hardship. Courage stresses firmness of mind or… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
