litmus test

  1. a test using litmus paper to determine whether a solution is an acid or a base
  2. any test in which a single factor determines the finding: a litmus test for political candidates

See litmus test in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A test for chemical acidity or basicity using litmus paper.
  2. A test that uses a single indicator to prompt a decision: “The word ‘hopefully’ has become the litmus test to determine whether one is a language snob or a language slob” (William Safire).

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