right stuff
What heroes have
The right stuff is the combination of qualities—courage, skill, composure under pressure—needed for a demanding role.
The phrase is most associated with test pilots and astronauts, popularized by Tom Wolfe's 1979 book about the early U.S. space program: She's got the right stuff to lead this mission.
More broadly, it describes whatever traits a situation requires: Does he have the right stuff to make it in politics?
Federal space exploration bureau
- spaceflightVoyaging beyond Earth's atmosphere
- MercuryMessenger god or planet
- GeminiZodiacal sign of duality
- ApolloSun deity, moonshot namesake
test pilot · mission · capsule · rocket · orbit · shuttle · launch · Edwards
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
- daringAdventurous courage
intrepidity · mettle · grit · pluck · nerve · fortitude · gallantry · heroism
Innate capability
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- expertiseSkill from extensive practice
- skillAcquired ability through practice
- masteryComplete skill or control
know-how · prowess · acumen · capability · dexterity · finesse · savvy · ingenuity
Moral soundness and consistency
- honorHigh regard, moral dignity
- moralityRight and wrong principles
- ethicsStudy of right conduct
- principleFundamental truth or standard
rectitude · uprightness · decency · probity · honesty · dignity · virtue · nobility
Carefully pick from options
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- exceptionalNotably above the norm
- distinguishedNotable and respected
- cream of the cropThe very best
top-tier · chosen · handpicked · outstanding · superior · premier · first-rate · exemplary
NASA
Federal space exploration bureau
- spaceflightVoyaging beyond Earth's atmosphere
- MercuryMessenger god or planet
- GeminiZodiacal sign of duality
Apollo · test pilot · mission · capsule · rocket · orbit · shuttle · launch · Edwards · Chuck Yeager
bravery
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
daring · intrepidity · mettle · grit · pluck · nerve · fortitude · gallantry · heroism · audacity
aptitude
Innate capability
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- expertiseSkill from extensive practice
- skillAcquired ability through practice
mastery · know-how · prowess · acumen · capability · dexterity · finesse · savvy · ingenuity · resourcefulness
integrity
Moral soundness and consistency
principle · rectitude · uprightness · decency · probity · honesty · dignity · virtue · nobility · conscience
select
Carefully pick from options
- exclusiveLimited to one group
- exceptionalNotably above the norm
- distinguishedNotable and respected
cream of the crop · top-tier · chosen · handpicked · outstanding · superior · premier · first-rate · exemplary · remarkable
- valorbravery, courage, gallantry, heroism, fearlessness
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
right stuffinadequacy
State of being insufficient
incompetence · weakness · ineptitude · inability · deficiency
right stuffcowardice
Absence of bravery
spinelessness · faintheartedness · yellow streak · timidity · gutlessness
right stuffunsuitability
Not right for purpose
unqualified · wrong fit · out of one's depth · disqualification · mismatch
right, stuff, rights, rightly, rightful, rightness, rightfully, righted, righting