take the field

Idioms  

1. Enter a competition, as in The country's best spellers took the field in the national spelling bee. This term originated around 1600 when it meant “to open a military campaign.” The field here is the field of battle. The term has been used figuratively almost as long, the first recorded use being in 1614.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

take the field

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.—France and Morocco were about to take the field, and Emily Austin was still crawling through traffic toward Gillette Stadium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 18, 2026

When Spain and Argentina take the field this weekend in front of a billion people, the World Cup will go to the best team in Europe or the greatest player in history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

I want more people playing rugby, rather than being scared to take the field.

From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2026

On Super Bowl Sunday, hours before the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots take the field, Tirico will be up at 4:30 on the West Coast to watch Lindsey Vonn in the women’s downhill.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026

But it would take at least a year of recruitment, training, and transportation across the Atlantic before the Americans were ready to take the field in Europe.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• attack
• battle
• challenge
• clash
• meet
• protect
• resist