Dictionary

step up to the plate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

An allusion to taking one's turn at bat in baseball.

Meanings

1. (US, idiomatic) To initiate action; to assume or take a responsibility.
   • "There is something in railway people that has encouraged them to step up to the plate," says Starr. 2021 January 27, Paul Clifton, “What is the future of the RDG?”, in RAIL, issue 923, page 44:
   • However, every time you fail to do something, you make it harder to step up to the plate for the next challenge. Think of this ability and willingness to step up as a competency or skill that you can develop over time. 2014, Henry Evans, Colm Foster, Step Up, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 78:
   • When you introduce a new and very important issue, you are likely to inspire some of those who have been sitting back to step up to the plate and take on the new role of promoting ethical practice. 2013, Janice Gow Pettey, Nonprofit Fundraising Strategy, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 207:
   • Surround yourself with good people who can reliably step up to the plate and solve problems when they occur. 2008 June 12, Beth Stackpole, “The IT pro's vacation planner”, in Computerworld, retrieved 17 Jun 2020:

Forms

Deriveds

step up

Synonyms

offer · volunteer