mettle
/ˈmetl/noun
mass noun
- a person's ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited and resilient way才能; 奋斗精神; 勇气：
the team showed their true mettle in the second half.
这个队下半场显示了真正的战斗力。
短语
be on one's mettle
- be ready or forced to prove one's ability to cope well with a demanding situation奋发, 鼓起勇气。
put someone on their mettle
- (of a demanding situation) test someone's ability to face difficulties（严峻形势）使奋发, 激励某人战胜困难。
派生词
mettlesome
adjective词源
mid 16th cent.: specialized spelling (used for figurative senses) of METAL.