rise to the challenge

Meaning

This idiom means to perform well or show strength of character when faced with a difficult situation, task, or problem. It has a highly positive, encouraging connotation. It is commonly used in both daily life and professional contexts to describe someone exceeding expectations under pressure.

Examples

• Even though the project was difficult, the team managed to rise to the challenge.

  Even though the project was difficult, the team managed to rise to the challenge.

• She was nervous about the speech, but she really rose to the challenge.

  She was nervous about the speech, but she really rose to the challenge.

• A good leader knows how to rise to the challenge when things go wrong.

  A good leader knows how to rise to the challenge when things go wrong.

• We need everyone to rise to the challenge if we want to finish this on time.

  We need everyone to rise to the challenge if we want to finish this on time.

• He didn't have much experience, but he rose to the challenge beautifully.

  He didn't have much experience, but he rose to the challenge beautifully.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She raised to the challenge.

  ✓ She rose to the challenge.

  'Raise' is a transitive verb meaning to lift something. 'Rise' (past tense 'rose') is intransitive and is the correct verb for this idiom.

• ✗ He rose up the challenge.

  ✓ He rose to the challenge.

  The correct preposition for this idiom is 'to', not 'up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When the main actor fell ill, the understudy had to ___.

  💡 Show strength and perform well under pressure.

  Show answer

  rise to the challenge

• This exam is going to be tough, but I know you will ___.

  💡 Succeed in this difficult situation.

  Show answer

  rise to the challenge