step up to the plate
idiomatic phrase
baseball
: to move into position next to home plate in order to bat
In April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson stepped up to the plate for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in New York City.—
Nelida Gonzalez Cutler
—often used figuratively in U.S. English to refer to showing readiness to meet a challenge (as by increased effort or improved performance)Nelida Gonzalez CutlerIf you want this promotion, you're going to have to step up to the plate.
"The mother either needs to continue to be the disciplinarian or get the father to step up to the plate and be a team player."—Barbara Lewin
Barbara LewinExamples of step up to the plate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Scott Mulhauser, a veteran Senate staffer and former aide to Biden, said McConnell needs to step up to the plate.
—Maureen Groppe, The Courier-Journal, 9 May 2023
Imperial Valley landowners need to step up to the plate — and threatening funding for the Salton Sea creates political leverage over them.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2023
Major donors to the U.N. system should step up to the plate to make sure more resources are being targeted to achieve gender equality in official climate meetings, both for COPs and for constituted body sessions.
—Catherine McKenna, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2022
Or can another team in the Three Rivers League step up to the plate?
—oregonlive, 31 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for step up to the plate
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Maureen Groppe, The Courier-Journal, 9 May 2023
Imperial Valley landowners need to step up to the plate — and threatening funding for the Salton Sea creates political leverage over them.
—Sammy Rothstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2023
Major donors to the U.N. system should step up to the plate to make sure more resources are being targeted to achieve gender equality in official climate meetings, both for COPs and for constituted body sessions.
—Catherine McKenna, Scientific American, 8 Nov. 2022
Or can another team in the Three Rivers League step up to the plate?
—oregonlive, 31 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for step up to the plate
Cite this Entry
“Step up to the plate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/step%20up%20to%20the%20plate. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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