Words / C2

METL/ˈmetl/

Mettle is courage and staying power under a test: on one’s mettle, prove your mettle. Metal is the material — the famous homophone. Courage and spirit are everyday; backbone is informal. Do not write mettle for a metal shelf.

Meaning

Courage and ability to cope with a hard test (on one’s mettle).

Examples

• “The storm put the night team on their mettle, not the slogan on the wall.”
• “The storm put the night shift on their mettle; the wall slogan did not.”
• “Show your mettle is the set phrase. Metal is iron and steel. Courage is the everyday cousin.”

Good to know

Spirit under test. Phrase: on one’s mettle / prove one’s mettle. Homophone: metal. Everyday: courage. Not a shelf.

Near in meaning

courage

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