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mettle

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛt(ə)l/

Definition of mettle

[mass noun]

a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties; spirit and resilience:the team showed their true mettle in the second half

Phrases

be on one's mettle: be ready or forced to do one’s best in a demanding situation: Saturday’s game will be a tricky one and we’ll have to be on our mettle from the start
put someone on their mettle: (of a demanding situation) test someone’s ability to face difficulties: there were regular public meetings where local MPs were put on their mettle and remorselessly pilloried

mid 16th century: specialized spelling (used for figurative senses) of metal

Definition of mettle in the US English dictionary

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