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throw down the gauntlet to


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WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
gaunt•let1 /ˈgɔntlɪt, ˈgɑnt-/USA pronunciation   n. 
    [countable]
  1. Heraldrya medieval glove made partly with metal, worn with a suit of armor to protect the hand.
  2. Clothinga glove with an extended, long cuff:a police officer's motorcycle gauntlets.
Idioms
  1. Idioms take up the gauntlet, to accept a challenge to fight.
  2. Idioms throw down the gauntlet, to challenge someone to fight.


gaunt•let2 /ˈgɔntlɪt, ˈgɑnt-/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.
  2. an attack from two or more sides.
Idioms
  1. Idioms run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or attacks.

Also, gantlet (for def. 1, 2. 4. in Unabridged dictionary).
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
gaunt•let1  (gônt′lit, gänt′-),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Heraldrya medieval glove, as of mail or plate, worn by a knight in armor to protect the hand.
  2. Clothinga glove with an extended cuff for the wrist.
  3. Clothingthe cuff itself.
  4. Idioms take up the gauntlet:
    • to accept a challenge to fight:He was always willing to take up the gauntlet for a good cause.
    • to show one's defiance. Also, take up the glove. 
  5. Idioms throw down the gauntlet:
    • to challenge.
    • to defy.
Also, throw down the glove. 
  • Gmc *want-; compare Old Norse vǫttr
  • Middle French, diminutive of gant glove
  • late Middle English gantelet 1375–1425
gaunt′let•ed, adj. 

gaunt•let2  (gônt′lit, gänt′-),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. a former punishment, chiefly military, in which the offender was made to run between two rows of men who struck at him with switches or weapons as he passed.
  2. the two rows of men administering this punishment.
  3. an attack from two or all sides.
  4. trying conditions;
    an ordeal.
  5. gantlet1 (def. 1).
  6. Idioms run the gauntlet, to suffer severe criticism or tribulation.

v.t. 
  1. gantlet1 (def. 3).
Also, gantlet (for defs. 1, 2, 4).
  • alteration of gantlope 1670–80

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
gauntlet / ˈɡɔːntlɪt/, gantlet
  1. a medieval armoured leather glove
  2. a heavy glove with a long cuff
  3. take up the gauntlet ⇒ to accept a challenge
  4. throw down the gauntlet ⇒ to offer a challenge
Etymology: 15th Century: from Old French gantelet, diminutive of gant glove, of Germanic origin
gauntlet / ˈɡɔːntlɪt/
  1. a punishment in which victims are forced to run between two rows of people who strike at them as they pass: formerly a military punishment
  2. run the gauntlet ⇒ to suffer this punishment
  3. to endure an onslaught or ordeal, as of criticism
  4. a testing ordeal; trial
  5. a variant spelling of gantlet11
Etymology: 15th Century: changed (through influence of gauntlet1) from earlier gantlope; see gantlet1
'throw down the gauntlet to' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
gauntlet

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