throw down the gauntlet

Idioms  

1. Declare or issue a challenge, as in The senator threw down the gauntlet on the abortion issue. This expression alludes to the medieval practice of a knight throwing down his gauntlet, or metal glove, as a challenge to combat. Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1700s, as does the less frequently heard take up the gauntlet, for accepting a challenge.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

throw down the gauntlet

Confronting an authoritarian strongman about his war crimes, Mon Mothma’s address to the Galactic Senate sees the future leader of the Rebel Alliance throw down the gauntlet against Emperor Palpatine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2025

So here’s a YouTube clip of the current definitive live-action Pac-Man to throw down the gauntlet.

From The Verge ● Aug. 9, 2022

After scoring the goal that sealed Manchester City’s progress to the semifinals, Phil Foden appeared to throw down the gauntlet to Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 2021

Its chair Maria Millerpromised she would "throw down the gauntlet to companies such as Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Twitter".

From The Guardian ● Jun. 19, 2013

He did not want to debate with himself whether he had the pluck to throw down the gauntlet to this fighting vaquero if the call had come to him.

From The Sheriff's Son by William MacLeod Raine

Related Words

• cross swords