The English language can get very confusing when you have words that sound quite similar to one another, but have entirely different meanings. This gets even more challenging when you have idioms and phrases that are more commonly spoken than they are written, especially if they involve words that are rarely used outside of the context of that particular idiom.
One such example is the word “mettle.” Many people mistakenly use medal or metal in its place. While metal and mettle may share some common origins, they aren’t exactly interchangeable. That’s because mettle has a distinctly different meaning than metal.
While metal refers to such materials as aluminum and nickel, mettle refers to a person’s temperament or disposition. More specifically, it refers to a person’s ability to cope with a difficult situation or problem. It can also refer to a sense of courage or strength when facing tough circumstances. It may also refer to a sense of resilience or tenacity.
The word mettle is most commonly used in two related phrases:
- Test your mettle: This refers to a situation or a set of circumstances where you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your character when faced with great difficulty or adversity. Rigorous military training, for example, would test your mettle. The ongoing challenges with the economy will continue to test Barack Obama‘s mettle.
- Prove your mettle: This is essentially the result of testing your mettle and emerging triumphant. When you prove your mettle, it means that you have successfully demonstrated the strength of your character and your ability to rise above a difficult situation. If you faced great financial hardship, but managed to start a highly profitable business, then you have really proved your mettle.
Some may say that you might deserve a medal made of a precious metal when you prove your mettle and overcome seemingly insurmountable odds.
Do you have a grammar question or topic you’d like to see addressed in a future Grammar 101 post? Let me know through the comments below.
I heard that Mattel Toys got a medal for making mettle toys out of metal!
Ha!
Huh, I never knew metal and mettle had common origins. I suppose when you think about it it’s somewhat logical, but it’s just never crossed my mind.
rise above?
I’m not really sure what you’re asking, because “rise above” is used quite literally (or in a figurative sense) most of the time. E.g., to rise above the petty arguments and really get some work done.
Oh, sorry. I thought it might be a typo. “When you prove your mettle, it means that you have successfully demonstrated the strength of your character and your ability to rise about a difficult situation.” Should “over” be “above”??
Oh. Yes, that’s a typo. Good catch.