“the gauntlet”

The following 2 entries include the term the gauntlet.

pick/take up the gauntlet

idiom

: to show that one is willing and ready to fight, argue, or compete with someone or to do something that is difficult but necessary : to accept or respond to a challenge

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throw down the gauntlet

idiom

: to say or show that one is ready to fight, argue, or compete with someone : to challenge someone

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