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throw down the gauntlet

throw down the gaunt·let
T t

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [throh doun stressed th ee gawnt-lit, gahnt-]
    • /θroʊ daʊn stressed ði ˈgɔnt lɪt, ˈgɑnt-/
    • /θrəʊ daʊn ðə ˈɡɔːnt.lət/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [throh doun stressed th ee gawnt-lit, gahnt-]
    • /θroʊ daʊn stressed ði ˈgɔnt lɪt, ˈgɑnt-/

Definitions of throw down the gauntlet words

  • noun throw down the gauntlet a medieval glove, as of mail or plate, worn by a knight in armor to protect the hand. 1
  • noun throw down the gauntlet a glove with an extended cuff for the wrist. 1
  • noun throw down the gauntlet the cuff itself. 1
  • idioms throw down the gauntlet take up the gauntlet, to accept a challenge to fight: He was always willing to take up the gauntlet for a good cause. to show one's defiance. Also, take up the glove. 1
  • idioms throw down the gauntlet throw down the gauntlet, to challenge. to defy. Also, throw down the glove. 1
  • noun throw down the gauntlet to offer a challenge 0
See all 7 definitions of throw down the gauntlet

Information block about the term

Origin of throw down the gauntlet

First appearance:

before 1375
One of the 22% oldest English words
1375-1425; late Middle English gantelet < Middle French, diminutive of gant glove < Germanic *want-; compare Old Norse vǫttr

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Throw down the gauntlet

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Throw down the gauntlet

throw down the gauntlet popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 86% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

throw down the gauntlet usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for throw down the gauntlet

verb throw down the gauntlet

  • ask for — to try to obtain by requesting
  • call out — If you call someone out, you order or request that they come to help, especially in an emergency.
  • challenge — A challenge is something new and difficult which requires great effort and determination.
  • face down — Also, face-down. Informal. a direct confrontation; showdown.
  • fly in the face of — to move through the air using wings.
All 11 Synonyms of throw down the gauntlet

See also

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