set up a challenge; throw down the gauntlet
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesverb
to set up a challenge arena; to issue a challenge (originally martial arts)
Originally refers to the act of setting up a public fighting stage (擂台) to challenge all comers. Now often used metaphorically to mean openly inviting competition or challenge in various fields (business, academics, sports).
Nà那
wèi位
quán拳
shī师
zài在
guǎng广
chǎng场
bǎi摆
lèi擂
sān三
tiān天
，
wú无
rén人
néng能
dí敌
。
That martial artist set up a challenge arena in the square for three days, and no one could defeat him.
Zhè这
jiā家
kē科
jì技
gōng公
sī司
gāo高
xīn薪
zhāo招
pìn聘
，
xiāng相
dāng当
yú于
zài在
háng行
yè业
nèi内
bǎi摆
lèi擂
。
This tech company's high-salary recruitment is like throwing down the gauntlet within the industry.
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Tā他
fā发
biǎo表
nà那
piān篇
pī批
pàn判
xìng性
wén文
zhāng章
，
wú无
yì异
yú于
xiàng向
quán权
wēi威
xué学
zhě者
bǎi摆
lèi擂
。
Publishing that critical article was tantamount to issuing a challenge to the authoritative scholars.