mettle Hear it!

mettle Definition

met·tle (met'l)

noun

quality of character or temperament; esp., high quality of character; spirit; courage; ardor

Etymology: var. of metal, used fig.

mettle Idioms

on one's mettle

roused or prepared to do one's best

mettle Synonyms

mettle

n.

  1. Spirit

    animation, energy, spunk; see force 3, life 1, vitality.

  2. Hardihood

    stamina, bravery, pluck; see courage 1, strength 1.

mettle Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • man: THE SPIRIT OF THE MAN celebrates the mettle of a man whose footballing achievements and eccentricity endeared him to a nation.

Converse of object

  • test: The first two days of the strike tested the mettle of both sides.
  • show: Here Barabas shows greater mettle than his enemy, who is prepared to run to Sicily to save his life.
  • have: However, Connolly believes that the whole Bath Rugby squad have the mettle to turn things around.
  • try: Among the earliest and most curious forms of amusements in Wales, was that of " trying the mettle " of the young men.
  • grasp: I don't mean apathy really, they just haven't grasped the mettle yet, never mind.
  • lack: In too many cases its censors appear to have been lacking the mettle to deal robustly with the film industry's nastier output.

Preposition: against

  • champion: Test your mettle against contemporary champions with puzzles that were worked out under tournament conditions by three top solvers.

Adjective modifier

  • true: This was when Bob's true mettle began to show.
  • ethical: Prove your ethical mettle, Co-op, clear the shelves of factory farmed ducks immediately!
  • own: The National Youth Choir of Scotland - celebrating its tenth birthday this year - revealed its own mettle in the Bernstein.
  • more: Some show more mettle in the face of death, while others become paralyzed from fear.
  • defensive: This formation definitely has the defensive mettle to shut teams up.
  • intellectual: Mr Brennan and Hepworth started the year, testing our intellectual mettle and general knowledge with a House quiz.

Modifies a noun

  • quot: Strident tune if the masters a mettle quot when of the world's.