acid test
noun
: a severe or crucial test
Example Sentences
The new team faced its first acid test when it played the national champions.
Recent Examples on the Web Any airport lounge, followed by the relentless drone of an aircraft in flight, is the acid test for noise-cancelling headphones. 
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 The power is shifting from employees to organizations, and this will be an acid test of company culture and values. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The acid test is whether a company can maintain its profit margin - the percentage of sales that flows to earnings. John S. Tobey, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 Typically the acid test to decide whether a financial instrument can be considered a security stems from two precedential interpretations from the Supreme Court concerning U.S. statutes written in the early 1930s. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 26 July 2022 The local government said residents must provide nucleic-acid test results within seven days before going to public places or taking public transport, effective after the holiday break. NBC News, 29 Apr. 2022 The Beijing Games risk becoming an acid test for credibility on corporate social responsibility. Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Batman sits square in that company, the proverbial middle manager at the acid test. Darren Franich, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2022 The acid test is, of course, how much green hydrogen produced using these methods will cost. Whitaker Irvin Jr., Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022 See More
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2022 The power is shifting from employees to organizations, and this will be an acid test of company culture and values. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 14 Aug. 2022 The acid test is whether a company can maintain its profit margin - the percentage of sales that flows to earnings. John S. Tobey, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 Typically the acid test to decide whether a financial instrument can be considered a security stems from two precedential interpretations from the Supreme Court concerning U.S. statutes written in the early 1930s. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 26 July 2022 The local government said residents must provide nucleic-acid test results within seven days before going to public places or taking public transport, effective after the holiday break. NBC News, 29 Apr. 2022 The Beijing Games risk becoming an acid test for credibility on corporate social responsibility. Nathaniel Taplin, WSJ, 4 Feb. 2022 Batman sits square in that company, the proverbial middle manager at the acid test. Darren Franich, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2022 The acid test is, of course, how much green hydrogen produced using these methods will cost. Whitaker Irvin Jr., Forbes, 3 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
so called from the use of nitric acid to determine the gold content of jewelry
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined above
acid test
noun
as in litmus test
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- litmus test
- litmus
- cross
- crucible
- fire
- gauntlet
- ordeal
- baptism
- initiation
- trial
- hardship
- gantlet
- challenge
- grievance
- grief
- difficulty
- complication
- rigor