mettle

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The true test of your mettle is your ability to handle "too much."

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Definitions (10)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun Courage and fortitude; spirit: troops who showed their mettle in combat.
  2. noun Inherent quality of character and temperament.
  3. idiom on (one's) mettle Prepared to accept a challenge and do one's best.

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Examples (50)

  • But if you want to test a mariachi's mettle, ask for "El Mil Amores" ( "The One Thousand Loves") and "Carabina 30-30" ( "Carbine 30-30") - the former because it's my theme song and written by the severely underappreciated Cuco Sanchez, the latter porque it's one of the few Mexican Revolution-era corridos that still notches regular airtime at parties (but not on radio, alas).
  • Live performances are the way musicians prove their mettle, and this recording showcases the raw energy of this Louisiana-born singer and guitarist, who is at the top of his game both as performer and songwriter. —  Broward-Palm Beach New Times | Complete Issue
  • The true test of your mettle is your ability to handle "too much." —  Aspen Daily News Online -
  • But if you want to test a mariachi's mettle, ask for "El Mil Amores" ( "The One Thousand Loves") and "Carabina 30-30" ( "Carbine 30-30") - the former because it's my theme song and written by the severly underappreciated Cuco Sanchez, the latter porque it's one of the few Mexican Revolution-era corridos that still notches regular airtime at parties (but not on radio, alas). —  NashvilleScene.com
  • The problem they'll face if Palin shows her mettle is this: the accusation that someone is a token just doesn't stick when the accused demonstrates substance. —  Donklephant
 

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

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Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Variant of metal.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. A former vernacular spelling of metal, in all uses; now confined to fig. senses.
 

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/ˈmɛtl/
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