To throw down the gauntlet
- To throw down the gauntlet
- Gauntlet Gaunt"let, n. [F. gantelet, dim. of gant glove, LL.
wantus, of Teutonic origin; cf. D. want, Sw. & Dan. vante,
Icel. v["o]ttr, for vantr.]
1. A glove of such material that it defends the hand from
wounds.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The gauntlet of the Middle Ages was sometimes of chain
mail, sometimes of leather partly covered with plates,
scales, etc., of metal sewed to it, and, in the 14th
century, became a glove of small steel plates,
carefully articulated and covering the whole hand
except the palm and the inside of the fingers.
[1913 Webster]
2. A long glove, covering the wrist.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Naut.) A rope on which hammocks or clothes are hung for
drying.
[1913 Webster]
{To take up the gauntlet}, to accept a challenge.
{To throw down the gauntlet}, to offer or send a challenge.
The gauntlet or glove was thrown down by the knight
challenging, and was taken up by the one who accepted the
challenge; -- hence the phrases.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
Look at other dictionaries:
throw down the gauntlet — see under ↑gauntlet1 • • • Main Entry: ↑throw * * * throw down the gauntlet phrase to make it clear that you want to argue or fight with someone about something Thesaurus: to arguehyponym arguments and arguing … Useful english dictionary
throw down the gauntlet — {v. phr.} To challenge, especially to a fight. * /Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet./ … Dictionary of American idioms
throw down the gauntlet — {v. phr.} To challenge, especially to a fight. * /Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet./ … Dictionary of American idioms
throw down the gauntlet — is to issue a challenge to somebody … The small dictionary of idiomes
throw down the gauntlet — Throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge to somebody. (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Throw down the gauntlet — Throw down the gauntlet is to issue a challenge to somebody … Dictionary of English idioms
throw down the gauntlet — ► take up (or throw down) the gauntlet accept (or issue) a challenge. [ORIGIN: from the medieval custom of issuing a challenge by throwing one s gauntlet to the ground; whoever picked it up was deemed to have accepted the challenge.] Main Entry:… … English terms dictionary
throw down the gauntlet — verb To issue a challenge. The competing firm threw down the gauntlet by offering a faster product at a lower price. See Also: take up the gauntlet … Wiktionary
throw down the gauntlet — challenge someone to a fight or something similar The government threw down the gauntlet to the opposition party to either give an alternative or stop criticizing the government s plans … Idioms and examples
throw\ down\ the\ gauntlet — v. phr. To challenge, especially to a fight. Another candidate for the presidency has thrown down the gauntlet … Словарь американских идиом
