(See also CRITERION.)
baptism of fire See INITIATION.
go through fire and water See DESIRE.
have one’s work cut out See DIFFICULTY.
ordeal by fire A severe test of character; a very distressing situation. In ancient Britain, an ordeal was a type of trial in which divine intervention was considered the only proof of a suspect’s innocence. These ordeals took many brutal forms, ranging from having one’s arm immersed in boiling water to being bound and tossed into an icy river. In both cases, an unscathed survivor was proclaimed innocent. The harshest ordeals, however, involved fire. The accused was forced either to grasp a red-hot iron in his hand or to walk barefooted through sizzling rocks and embers. Again, a suspect who emerged uninjured was considered guiltless. Although these cruel trials were abolished shortly after the Norman conquest of Britain, the expression has retained its meaning of an exceedingly agonizing experience undergone to test one’s worth.
put through one’s facings To require another to exhibit his skill for purposes of scrutiny; to make a person perform to the utmost of his capabilities. Literal facings are military maneuvers.
Grace, not at all unwillingly, was put through her facings. (Anthony Trollope, The Last Chronicle of Barset, 1867)
The expression usually carries connotations of being badgered or harassed, as in the following bit of doggerel by F. Egerton.
We were scarcely wed a week When she put me through my facings.
And walloped me—and worse; She said I did not want a wife, I ought to have had a nurse.
put through one’s paces To require another to display the full range of his abilities; to test another’s resources to the utmost. Paces here refers to the training steps or gaits of horses. The equestrian phrase was first extended to persons called upon to perform at their maximum potential, and subsequently to inanimate objects as well.
The captain affirmed that the ship would show us in time all her paces. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, English Traits, 1856)
The test pilots … put the new planes through their paces. (H. H. Arnold and I. C. Eaker, cited in Webster’s Third)
take the measure of To judge the character of, to size up, to ascertain the good and bad points. Measure in this expression refers literally to the dimensions of a body, information necessary to a tailor who needs exact “measurements” to fit someone for clothes. Figuratively the term refers not to size, but to character.
Our hostess … bustled off … to take the measure of the new-comer. (Sir A. Conan Doyle, Micah Clarke, 1889)
Even further removed from the literal use is the application of this expression to organizations or institutions.
The people have taken the measure of this whole labor movement. {Nations, January 5, 1893)
If you prove that something is true or correct, you provide evidence showing that it is definitely true or correct.
When you use a practical method to try to find out how good or bad someone or something is, don't say that you 'prove' them. Say that you test them.
A test is a series of questions that you answer to show how much you know about a subject. You say that someone takes or does this type of test.
A test is also a series of actions that you do to show how well you are able to do something. You say that someone takes a test of this kind.
Be Careful!
Don't use 'make' with test. Don't say, for example, 'She's not yet made her driving test'.
If someone is successful in a test of either kind, you say that they pass it.
Be Careful!
To pass a test always means to succeed in it. It does not have the same meaning as take or do.
If someone is unsuccessful in a test, you say that they fail it.
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Noun | 1. | ![]() experimentation, experiment - the testing of an idea; "it was an experiment in living"; "not all experimentation is done in laboratories" field test, field trial - a test of the performance of some new product under the conditions in which it will be used alpha test - (computer science) a first test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by the developer beta test - (computer science) a second test of an experimental product (such as computer software) carried out by an outside organization road test - a test to insure that a vehicle is roadworthy trial balloon - a test of public opinion |
2. | ![]() mental measurement - a generic term used to cover any application of measurement techniques to the quantification of mental functions intelligence test, IQ test - a psychometric test of intelligence; "they used to think that intelligence is what an intelligence test tests" personality test - any test that is intended to assess personality sub-test - one of a battery of related tests | |
3. | ![]() communicating, communication - the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information; "they could not act without official communication from Moscow" bar exam, bar examination - an examination conducted at regular intervals to determine whether a candidate is qualified to practice law in a given jurisdiction; "applicants may qualify to take the New York bar examination by graduating from an approved law school"; "he passed the bar exam on his third try" comp, comprehensive, comprehensive examination - an intensive examination testing a student's proficiency in some special field of knowledge; "she took her comps in English literature" entrance exam, entrance examination - examination to determine a candidate's preparation for a course of studies litmus test - a test that relies on a single indicator; "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives" midterm exam, midterm examination, midterm - an examination administered in the middle of an academic term oral, oral exam, oral examination, viva, viva voce - an examination conducted by spoken communication preliminary exam, preliminary examination, prelim - an examination taken by graduate students to determine their fitness to continue quiz - an examination consisting of a few short questions tripos - final honors degree examinations at Cambridge University | |
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5. | ![]() attempt, effort, try, endeavor, endeavour - earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something; "made an effort to cover all the reading material"; "wished him luck in his endeavor"; "she gave it a good try" assay - a quantitative or qualitative test of a substance (especially an ore or a drug) to determine its components; frequently used to test for the presence or concentration of infectious agents or antibodies etc. clinical test, clinical trial - a rigorously controlled test of a new drug or a new invasive medical device on human subjects; in the United States it is conducted under the direction of the FDA before being made available for general clinical use double blind - a test procedure in which the identity of those receiving the intervention is concealed from both the administrators and the subjects until after the test is completed; designed to reduce or eliminate bias in the results preclinical phase, preclinical test, preclinical trial - a laboratory test of a new drug or a new invasive medical device on animal subjects; conducted to gather evidence justifying a clinical trial field trial - a test of young hunting dogs to determine their skill in pointing and retrieving Ministry of Transportation test, MOT test, MOT - a compulsory annual test of older motor vehicles for safety and exhaust fumes pilot program, pilot project - activity planned as a test or trial; "they funded a pilot project in six states" Snellen test - a test of visual acuity using a Snellen chart | |
6. | test - a hard outer covering as of some amoebas and sea urchins covering, natural covering, cover - a natural object that covers or envelops; "under a covering of dust"; "the fox was flushed from its cover" | |
Verb | 1. | ![]() pass judgment, evaluate, judge - form a critical opinion of; "I cannot judge some works of modern art"; "How do you evaluate this grant proposal?" "We shouldn't pass judgment on other people" verify, control - check or regulate (a scientific experiment) by conducting a parallel experiment or comparing with another standard; "Are you controlling for the temperature?" float - circulate or discuss tentatively; test the waters with; "The Republicans are floating the idea of a tax reform" field-test - test something under the conditions under which it will actually be used; "The Army field tested the new tanks" |
2. | test - test or examine for the presence of disease or infection; "screen the blood for the HIV virus" check - make an examination or investigation; "check into the rumor"; "check the time of the class" | |
3. | test - examine someone's knowledge of something; "The teacher tests us every week"; "We got quizzed on French irregular verbs" test - undergo a test; "She doesn't test well" examine - question closely | |
4. | test - show a certain characteristic when tested; "He tested positive for HIV" be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" | |
5. | test - achieve a certain score or rating on a test; "She tested high on the LSAT and was admitted to all the good law schools" test - undergo a test; "She doesn't test well" score - get a certain number or letter indicating quality or performance; "She scored high on the SAT"; "He scored a 200" | |
6. | test - determine the presence or properties of (a substance) | |
7. | test - undergo a test; "She doesn't test well" quiz, test - examine someone's knowledge of something; "The teacher tests us every week"; "We got quizzed on French irregular verbs" test - achieve a certain score or rating on a test; "She tested high on the LSAT and was admitted to all the good law schools" |