put to the challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

"put to the challenge" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You use it when you are referring to accepting a challenge or having to face a difficult test or situation. For example: "The team was put to the challenge when they had to rewrite their entire program in one week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"But he is really going to be put to the challenge in the next couple years".

The New York Times

To create a consistently accurate system, the students were put to the challenge, needing to make engineering decisions and trade-offs.

TechCrunch

Decades of brilliant science, exciting findings, and substantial investment have far too often not translated when put to the challenge of human clinical trials.

Aging

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The challenge put to the designers was not simply, "What does Sept. 11 represent?" The original aim of the development corporation was to entirely rebuild the destroyed office space, hotel and shopping mall.

The New York Times

The project started simply, with a challenge put to the city's residents to save 1bn litres of water in a year.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Another challenge put to the candidates was to make London a "world-leading solar city" with a 10-fold increase in solar capacity, meaning something like 200,000 solar rooftops.

The Guardian

"I submit that literature is made upon any occasion that a challenge is put to the legal apparatus by conscience in touch with humanity.

Los Angeles Times

The prosecution's hypothesis is now challenged or put to the test.

SEP

If you tried to rework Six Feet Under for a Japanese audience you would be hard put to meet the challenge of addressing the Japanese culture's rituals surrounding a loved one's death with so much dignity, kindness, and respect for the deceased.

Huffington Post

The constitutionality of capital punishment was also put to a challenge, which the Supreme Court did not get round to dismissing until last year.

The Economist

So I put myself to the challenge.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put to the challenge" when you want to convey that someone or something is being tested or faces a difficult situation that requires effort and skill to overcome. Ensure the context clearly indicates what the challenge is and who or what is being challenged.

Common error

Avoid using "put to the challenge" when the situation is simply a routine task or doesn't involve a significant test of skill or ability. Overusing the phrase in trivial contexts can dilute its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put to the challenge" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that someone or something is being subjected to a test or difficult situation. As Ludwig AI explains, it refers to accepting a challenge or facing a demanding test.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "put to the challenge" is a versatile expression used to describe the act of facing a significant test or difficult situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts like news, science, and formal communications. While the phrase itself carries a neutral tone, it's crucial to ensure the context involves a genuine test of skill or ability to avoid diluting its impact. Remember to consider more formal alternatives like "subjected to scrutiny" in certain settings. This analysis highlights the phrase's wide applicability and provides guidance for its effective use in various writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

faced with a test

Emphasizes the presence of a specific trial or examination, implying a formal assessment.

given a demanding assignment

Highlights the difficulty and high expectations associated with a particular task.

subjected to scrutiny

Focuses on being examined closely and critically, highlighting the evaluative aspect of the challenge.

asked to rise to the occasion

Implies a call for exceptional performance in response to a significant event or demand.

tasked with overcoming an obstacle

Focuses on the assignment of a specific challenge that involves removing or bypassing a barrier.

confronted with adversity

Highlights the negative or difficult circumstances that must be overcome.

required to demonstrate competence

Stresses the need to prove one's abilities or skills in a particular area.

challenged to exceed expectations

Emphasizes the ambition of surpassing typical performance levels.

expected to deliver under pressure

Focuses on the anticipation of successful results despite stressful conditions.

called upon to prove their mettle

Suggests a situation where one's courage, strength, or ability is tested.

FAQs

How can I use "put to the challenge" in a sentence?

You can use "put to the challenge" to describe a situation where someone is facing a difficult test or task. For example, "The new software was "put to the challenge" during the peak traffic hours to see if it could handle the load".

What's a more formal way to say "put to the challenge"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "subjected to scrutiny" or "faced with a test" to convey a similar meaning while maintaining a higher level of formality. Alternatively, you may use "tasked with overcoming an obstacle".

Which is correct: "put to the challenge" or "up to the challenge"?

"Put to the challenge" describes the act of someone or something being tested. "Up to the challenge" describes the state of being capable or ready to face a challenge. For example, "The team was "put to the challenge", and they proved they were up to the challenge".

What can I say instead of "put to the challenge" when emphasizing overcoming difficulties?

If you want to highlight the act of overcoming difficulties, consider using phrases like "asked to rise to the occasion" or "challenged to exceed expectations" to emphasize the effort and achievement involved.