step up to the plate
Take your turn
Step up to the plate means to take responsibility or rise to a challenge when needed.
The phrase comes from baseball, where a batter steps into position at home plate to face the pitcher.
The figurative sense dominates: When the project leader quit, Sarah stepped up to the plate.
It implies accepting a difficult task that others might avoid.
- stand upRise to feet
- come forthTo appear or arise
- volunteerUnpaid willing participant
- confrontFace squarely, address directly
- come forwardApproach to speak up
take responsibility · take charge · rise · answer the call · baseball · initiative · resolve · audacity · accountability · bases loaded · fortitude · boldness · rise to the occasion · ownership · do your part · engage · commitment · effort
- Competition idiomslevel playing field, down to the wire, neck and neck, win hands down, come from behind
- idiomstime flies, hit the sack, seize the day, ring a bell, break a leg
- sports idiomsdrop the ball, throw in the towel, slam dunk, out of left field, level playing field
- baseballbaseball, bat, pitchers, catchers, pitcher
- competition metaphorslevel playing field, race to the bottom, win-win, rat race, front runner
step up to the plateshrink back
Withdraw due to fear
cower · back down · chicken out · wimp out · shy away
step up to the platebow out
Voluntarily leave a situation
step aside · withdraw · retire · opt out · back off
step up to the platepass the buck
Transfer responsibility elsewhere
punt · play it safe · keep one's head down · hang back · hold back
step, stepped, stepping, stepper, stepwise, plate, plates, plated, plating