Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

throw down the gauntlet

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.13 in modern English

Syllables
throw -down the -gaunt-let
IPA
34
Scrabble Score
20
Letters
4
Syllables
12
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To issue a challenge.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From the late medieval custom symbolizing a challenge, in French jeter le gant which nowadays usually means to give up after having tried hard (leaving the challenge to any takers). The English phrase dates to the 1540s (figurative use by the 18th century).

Inflected Forms

throws down the gauntlet (present, singular) throwing down the gauntlet (participle, present) threw down the gauntlet (past) thrown down the gauntlet (participle, past) throw down the gantlet (alternative)

Phrases

throw down throw-down take up the gauntlet gloves are off take off one's gloves throw one's hat in the ring

Frequently Paired Words

take up the gauntlet gloves are off take off one's gloves throw one's hat in the ring

Questions

What does throw down the gauntlet mean?
To issue a challenge.
Where does throw down the gauntlet come from?
From the late medieval custom symbolizing a challenge, in French jeter le gant which nowadays usually means to give up after having tried hard (leaving the challenge to any takers). The English phrase dates to the 1540s (figurative use by the 18th century).

How to pronounce throw down the gauntlet

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