Check out companion project: An Idiom a Day (www.twitter.com/AVDemid)
Idiom(s) of the day: the acid test
Explanation(s):
Collins Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms, 2004 (CCDI):
If you refer to something as the acid test, you mean that it will show or prove how effective or useful something is. You can also say that something is an acid test. Note: Nitric acid can be used to test whether a metal is pure gold because it corrodes most metals but does not affect gold.
Lingvo (www.lingvo.com):
a conclusive test of the success or value of something
a rigorous and conclusive test to establish worth or value
a way of deciding whether sth is successful or true
a severe or crucial test (as of value, authenticity, or effectiveness)
Babylon (www.babylon.com):
decisive test, last and final examination; test of fate; test of acidity in a substance
the true test of the value of something
the ultimate trial for someone's credibility
a severe or crucial test
a fact, event, or situation that proves something, for example whether a plan will work
a decisive or critical test, as of worth or quality
a rigorous or crucial appraisal
a sure test, giving an incontestable result
The acid test of something is an important aspect or result that it might have, which allows you to decide whether it is true or successful.
Translation(s):
CCDI:
Серьезное испытание на прочность, надежность и т.п.; «лакмусовая бумажка»; пробный камень
Lingvo (www.lingvo.com):
серьезное, решающее испытание
тест на быструю [срочную] ликвидность , проверка быстрой [срочной] ликвидности , "кислотный тест" (оценка способности компании отвечать по своим краткосрочным обязательствам; проводится путем расчета коэффициента быстрой ликвидности)
отношение кассовой наличности и дебиторской задолженности к текущим обязательствам фирмы
проба на кислую реакцию (проверка качества золота в азотной кислоте)
критическая оценка
испытание на кислотность; кислотный метод испытания
Multitran (www.multitran.ru):
испытание с пристрастием
массовое пристрастие к употреблению Л.С.Д.
осёлок
чрезвычайно жёсткое испытание
Babylon (www.babylon.com):
1. проба на кислую реакцию; 2. решающее испытание; основная проверка
Examples:
CCDI:
The acid test for the vaccine will be its performance in African countries where malaria is raging more fiercely than in Colombia.
So far, I don’t feel too bad but I’m waiting for my first really stressful day when things go wrong. That will be the real acid test.
The case, as a whole, is an acid test of the justice system.
Lingvo (www.lingvo.com):
gritstone is the acid test of a climber's ability
the pact with the rebels is an acid test of the government's sincerity
the play passed the critic's acid test
The acid test of a good driver is whether he or she remains calm in an emergency.
the acid test of our … good faith — A.H.Vandenberg
rationally testing our hypothesis by the acid test of seeing how it works — Gardner Murphy
reading papers is the acid test of the teacher — English Journal
Misfortune is an acid test of friendship.
The treatment accorded Russia by her sister nations in the months to come will be the acid test of their good will. (W.Wilson, 1918) — Помощь (большевистской) России со стороны дружественных стран в ближайшие месяцы будет проверкой их доброй воли.
The approaching revolution of 1905, as it turned out, was to provide an acid test of the diametrically opposite theories and programme of the Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. (W. Foster, ‘Outline History of the World Trade Union Movement’, ch. 20) — Как оказалось впоследствии, приближавшаяся революция 1905 года явилась пробным камнем для проверки диаметрально противоположных теорий и программ меньшевиков и большевиков.
I'll let my kids give it the acid test. If it survives them it's a winner — Я отдам эту штуку на растерзание своим детям. Если она не сломается, то значит, сделана добротно
Babylon (www.babylon.com):
It looks good, but will people buy it? That's the acid test.
Your readiness to support me during the examination was the acid test of our relationship.
The state of the economy is usually the acid test of any government's success.
The acid test of a school is `would you send your own children there?'
Multilex (www.multilex.ru):
to withstand the acid test — выдержать серьёзную проверку
British National Corpus (BNC), Mark Davies (http://corpus.byu.edu/bnc/):
1 JYN S_lect_soc_science I think with something like this, with questionnaires really the, the, the acid test is actually trying to administer them and then you see the problems very often
2 J8M S_sermon cost , I'm willing to pay it and Jesus said that that is the acid test of disciples, said to count the cost and weigh it up and Ruth
3 CMP W_fict_prose . The troops seemed eager enough, but the next few seconds would be the acid test of their willingness to fight against their old master, Napoleon. The first
4 HWC W_fict_prose get the better of me for a moment, might still be around if that acid test hadn't found it out. The incompetent or misguided general had been dismissed
5 K1C W_news_script eyes especially. They're always half-closed, and the bags underneath Voice over The acid test is if people recognise Keith in the President's old haunts. His old
6 CH2 W_newsp_tabloid Monetary System. But with German help, the franc just survived. "The acid test is whether the Bundesbank is prepared to cut interest rates to help the French
7 CH3 W_newsp_tabloid also raced to a 5-0 victory in his match against the Australian John Campbell. ACID TEST FOOTBALLERS could face a three-month suspension --; for taking ordinary cough mixture! That
8 AK6 W_newsp_brdsht_nat_misc a smile back on Wilkinson's face. He said: "This was the acid test for us. If we were going to cave in it would have been
9 A5K W_newsp_brdsht_nat_editorial and friends during his abbreviated time on this earth. Letter: Noise: the acid test From Professor MARY CARTER Sir: Tony Colston-Hayter of World Wide Productions (letter
10 K5J W_newsp_other_social the emergence of Eoin Jess at Aberdeen. Ibrox, therefore, could be an acid test for Robertson, Levein and a few others. In order to prove themselves,
11 K5D W_newsp_other_report . With Labour preparing to unveil specific policies today, Mr Clarke said that the acid test of Labour's new rhetoric and any new consensus on crime was whether the
12 K97 W_newsp_other_report on Saturday. People ask if we are good enough and Leicester away is an acid test." King saluted goalscorer Nevin, who seems to be competing with fellow
13 A7N W_pop_lore really nice man at work; we've been seeing each other ever since. The acid test was when I told him why I never had any money to spend,
14 C95 W_pop_lore of the swords and is in no danger of extinction. Apistos that pass the acid test MARY BAILEY has noticed that Apistogramma agassizii is once again available. As Apistos go
15 C9N W_pop_lore problem if you consider that the nature of the beast is part electric. The acid test of this type of guitar is to put it through a mixing desk with
16 CG1 W_pop_lore an attempt to escape the wind. It is generally acknowledged that gritstone is the acid test of a climber's ability; if you can handle its subtleties and idiosyncrasies
17 CR7 W_pop_lore two years ago, wrote flatly that And since the perception of fairness is the acid test for democracy --; the very basis of its legitimacy --; the unfairness argument overrules
18 HXW W_ac_polit_law_edu the land … From these authorities I collect two things. Firstly, that the acid test whether or not benefit is collateral is that laid down by Best J, namely "
19 A04 W_ac_humanities_arts that both he and I like. SNAPSHOTS: THE ARTICLES THE SOLO EXHIBITION The acid test for art criticism is the solo exhibition. This is the occasion when a
20 A0T W_ac_humanities_arts already . Isn't there something suspicious about making the performance of intentional actions the acid test of objective knowledge when it is quite possible that young babies have a very
21 CM8 W_ac_humanities_arts of debate and enjoy the protection of a legal system. This is not an acid test, far less a self-evident one, but, as I have tried to
22 ALP W_ac_soc_science criteria outside of the Criminal Justice System but reconviction rates for probation practice must remain the acid test. Before and after course results are important indices of immediate impact, but
23 EAY W_non_ac_humanities_arts consultation with members of congress on behalf of his new policy, but his performance in this acid test of presidential leadership was unimpressive. His earlier complete reversal of his position had
24 FB1 W_non_ac_humanities_arts relate to one another in the process of producing wealth. The critical question, the acid test of socialism, is the distribution of power at the point of production.
25 B7G W_non_ac_nat_science also save radio time --; controllers will not have to keep calling the cars. Acid test JAPANESE scientists have discovered a new way of dating the fossils of crustaceans and
26 B7H W_non_ac_nat_science five . FORUM Model shops for beginners Jack Trevor Story puts model shops to the acid test ALTHOUGH the world around us here in Milton Keynes at any rate has become
27 B28 W_non_ac_polit_law_edu can familiarise themselves with the process. This, however, is to evade the acid test, as I have already implied, which is the ability even of these
28 EX5 W_non_ac_polit_law_edu . You can train yourself to write faster and legibly. Practise it! The acid test is this: will you be able to read through your notes the next
29 H91 W_non_ac_polit_law_edu to democracy posed by the present moves towards a federal state of Europe. The acid test of whether there is a continuing role for the nation state remains whether the
30 AL8 W_non_ac_soc_science the task of educating for citizenship; for the WEA "it must be the acid test of the extent to which it is doing its job that the primacy should
31 EV3 W_non_ac_soc_science used in the appropriate ways by teachers and pupils. Indeed, this is the acid test of the success of the project in achieving its over-arching aim of improving the
32 HPN W_non_ac_soc_science itself, prove that the researcher has made an original contribution to knowledge. The acid test of originality is the judgement by editorial peer review that a paper related to
33 C8L W_religion reasons for church planting are irrelevant. But if we can say Yes to this acid test, then we will find several other reasons for planting churches today which will
34 C8V W_religion critical ", "systematic" and "rational". Doubt therefore becomes the acid test for truth, the best solvent for error, the Geiger counter for detecting
35 C9U W_biography , a bookshelf prominently displaying the very latest Tom Wolfe volume, The Electric Kook-Aid Acid Test , and, on the coffee table, a copy of the prestigious British
36 H9Y W_biography &equo; --; I don't know why it worked, but it did. The acid test, of course, was to sit through Driving Miss Daisy without shedding a tear
37 B2F W_commerce (see page 32), and Delegation (see page 49). The acid test of a good leader is the extent to which they select a style to
38 B2F W_commerce behaviour Skilful behaviour, like any other skill, is acquired through practice. The acid test of a skill is to watch someone else doing something effortlessly and then to
39 CM0 W_commerce a short list who would truly fit into that organisation. As ever, the acid test for search consultants is not getting the people hired, but whether those people
40 ECD W_commerce Lord Greene MR in Saltman Engineering Co Ltd v. Campbell Engineering Co Ltd. The acid test, according to the Master of the Rolls, was whether the information had &bquo;
41 G28 W_commerce per cent of turnover seemed high, and JR decided to adopt the view that the acid test for a credit controller would be the cost of employing him when compared with
42 GVN W_commerce Politicians may apply the same criteria. Margaret Thatcher is supposed to have applied the acid test of "Is he one of us?" when making her senior appointments
43 HNV W_commerce to meet short-term obligations. The ratio measuring this ability, often called the "acid test " is A manufacturing company would be expected to maintain a 1:1 ratio to
44 HRH W_commerce to meet short-term obligations. The ratio measuring this ability, often called the "acid test " is A manufacturing company would be expected to maintain a 1: 1
45 HHW W_hansard when they are starting down the road to a single European market --; perhaps the acid test of how much one of us wants the Common Market to succeed. A
46 HHW W_hansard by helping the Local Government Finance Bill on to the statute book. That is the acid test. How can the nation judge Labour's sincerity if Labour is determined to
47 AM4 W_misc seemed to find the evidence wanting. Interviewed by Central TV's documentary "The Acid Test ", Chester declared that "You can not possibly, by observing diatoms
48 BME W_misc of great technical excellence have been written on the subject of costing, but the acid test of a well-organised system is that it provides useful information to management under each
49 CMM W_misc repeat business keep the nursery going for many, many years? That is the acid test. And then comes the hard work as, like packing your holiday case
50 HBP W_misc and the group as a whole: (1) Working capital (2) Acid test (ii) In respect of Sour Ltd and Crowt Ltd only: (1
My companion project: An Idiom a Day (www.twitter.com/AVDemid)
