a crisis which will test the minister’s mettlemettlemet‧tle /ˈmetl/ noun [uncountable] 
a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle2on your mettle British English if you are on your mettle, you are ready to try as hard as possible because your abilities are being tested: We’ll have to be on our mettle from the start.keep/put somebody on their mettle This was just his way of keeping me on my mettle.
WORD ORIGINmettle
Origin:
1500-1600 metalEXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Frazer's disciple, Malinowski, was of a very different mettle.
- He was an outstanding fighter pilot who proved his mettle in a variety of tough assignments, including two wars.
- Houston is the only team with proven playoff mettle.
- It is in the treatment of the upper torso that the artist really shows his mettle.
- Louis Armstrong and Bunny Berigan may have been trumpet talents of a similar mettle but there the resemblance stopped.
- The result is a sort of upscale Hemingway-esque story about affluent, pampered men testing their mettle.
- You are pleased with yourself for venturing, testing your mettle.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle This was just his way of keeping me on my mettle.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSVERB
a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle This was just his way of keeping me on my mettle.· He was an outstanding fighter pilot who proved his mettle in a variety of tough assignments, including two wars.· Townsend boys got into City almost automatically; they had already proved their mettle.· As a land-development specialist for the Bureau, Dominy proved his mettle quickly.
· Variations in response put you on your mettle.
· It is in the treatment of the upper torso that the artist really shows his mettle.
· If Labour wins on Thursday, it is likely that the markets will test the mettle of Mr Smith.· You are pleased with yourself for venturing, testing your mettle.· The result is a sort of upscale Hemingway-esque story about affluent, pampered men testing their mettle.· The best place to test a motorcycle's mettle is on a twisty mountain road.· Graham led a lovely rib, slabby and clean, though it didn't test our mettle too severely.· Crises will strew his path to test his mettle.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
1courage and determination to do something even when it is very difficulttest/show/prove your mettle- He had been on his mettle throughout.
- He thinks this keeps him on his mettle, but it often leaves him at a loss for the right word.
- I see now that it was just his way of keeping me on my mettle and making sure I didn't get big-headed.
- Variations in response put you on your mettle.
a crisis which will test the minister’s mettle2on your mettle British English if you are on your mettle, you are ready to try as hard as possible because your abilities are being tested: We’ll have to be on our mettle from the start.keep/put somebody on their mettle This was just his way of keeping me on my mettle.