noun
a rigorous or crucial appraisal
• Hypernyms: ↑appraisal, ↑assessment
* * *
noun [singular]
: a difficult situation or task that shows if someone or something is good enough to succeed
The new team faced its first acid test when it played the national champions.
— compare ↑litmus test
* * *
a way of deciding whether sth is successful or true
•
The acid test of a good driver is whether he or she remains calm in an emergency.
See also: ↑litmus test
Word Origin:
figuratively, from the original use which was a test for gold using nitric acid.
Example Bank:
•
The perception of fairness is the acid test for democracy.
•
This type of stone is the acid test of a climber's ability.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.