take up the gauntlet

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

See throw down the gauntlet. (Cf. French relever le gant)

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Verb edit

take up the gauntlet (third-person singular simple present takes up the gauntlet, present participle taking up the gauntlet, simple past took up the gauntlet, past participle taken up the gauntlet)

  1. (idiomatic) To accept a challenge.
    He doesn't read Greek, but he took up the gauntlet and did his best to understand the letter, anyway.

Translations edit