take up the gauntlet
To accept a challenge.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He challenged me to a race, so I took up the gauntlet.”
“When the manager asked for volunteers to lead the difficult project, Sarah decided to take up the gauntlet.”
“Faced with the daunting prospect of reforming the entire department, the new director took up the gauntlet with a quiet sense of purpose.”
See throw down the gauntlet. (Cf. French relever le gant)
- 01
be taken ill
To become ill.
- 02
cross to take up
Alternative form of cross to bear.
- 03
forget to take one's medication this morning
To be annoyed or irritable, or to behave in an ill-mannered way, particularly in the morning.
- 04
get taken in
To be fooled; to fall for.
- 05
give and take
A process of compromise or accommodation.
- 06
give someone an inch and someone will take a mile
Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.
- 07
have one's name taken
To receive a yellow card.
- 08
I take it
Used to express one's understanding of another's position.
Last updated August 10, 2026