step up to the plate

Quote

1. Quote - Listen to the quote and guess what the slang means.

Definition

1. Definition - Study the definition.

accept a responsibility or challenge

2. Use - Learn how the slang is used.

Jennifer Garner and her husband Ben Affleck love to watch their favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, play baseball. On game days, they’re often seen in the stands, cheering for the players. So it’s not surprising to hear Jennifer use a slang expression that comes from baseball.

In baseball, when a player steps up to the plate, he gets into position to hit the ball. The plate in this case is home plate. When it’s his turn to swing, a player will stand on home plate, raise his bat, and wait for the pitcher to throw him the ball. Hopefully, he’ll score a point by hitting a home run, or at least make it to first base.

But you don’t have to be a baseball player to step up to the plate. Whenever you take on a responsibility or meet a challenge, you’re stepping up to the plate. Jennifer Garner says that her friends always step up to the plate and support her whenever she’s going through a hard time. It sounds like they’re the kind of friends who would make great teammates.

Examples

1. Examples - Hear some example sentences.

“When my mother got sick, my dad really stepped up to the plate and took care of us kids.”

“Christy always steps up to the plate when there is an important project to do the office.”

“Thanks for stepping up to the plate last week. You’re always there for me when I need you.”

Winners

1. Winners - See who guessed the slang definition correctly.

	it refers to take on or accept a challenge or a responsibility. by VOLTS
	hmmm ... try to come in to our problems and help to solve it. by Rahma MD
	if i step up to the plate, i'm ready for the challenge, and i bring myself into play by fanaimi
	To move into the position where one is ready to do a task. ...based on the baseball meaning of: step up to the plate (move into position to hit the ball) by lalobrown
	It must mean:Be ready to do a task or something like that when someone is in a hard way,in another words,to accept or take a responsibility. by Unless
	I think 'step up to the plate' means' stand by someone when someone is in trouble' or 'cheer someone up when he or she is feeling depressed'. by Mr.Bean's wife
	to show initiative, not to hesitate to do what needs to be done. by RadistkaAnn
	means that they are always there for her by Maja_Roxy
	be brave to face the tough things. by CatherineVanilla
	That they´re better friends than usually. And that they can help her. by Aneet
	to take responsibility, to assume responsibility by Liaa
	your friends always there to support or help you in ur problems no matter what... by melamarc
	to initiatively take the challenge together. by sofree

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