# measure swords with

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/measure-swords-with
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To match one's abilities against an antagonist's.

## Examples

- He wants to measure swords with the current champion.
- The young lawyer prepared for weeks because she knew she would soon measure swords with a veteran prosecutor.
- The two rivals, long accustomed to their separate spheres of influence, finally met in the boardroom to measure swords with one another over the future of the company.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.