step up to the plate

step up to the plate

To take responsibility for something that needs to be done. A reference to baseball, in which the batter stands next to home plate. Someone will need to step up to the plate and lead this project now that Dylan has resigned. We're all counting on you to step up to the plate and get this done.
See also: plate, step, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

step up to the plate

 
1. Lit. [for a batter in baseball] to move near home plate in preparation for striking the ball when it is pitched. The batter stepped up to the plate and glared at the pitcher.
2. Fig. to move into a position where one is ready to do a task. It's time for Tom to step up to the plate and take on his share of work.
See also: plate, step, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

step up to the plate

mainly AMERICAN
If a person or organization steps up to the plate, they take responsibility for doing something, often something that is difficult. It is time for the council to step up to the plate and provide the necessary leadership. Perhaps Mr. Sutherland should step up to the plate and lead the negotiations. Note: In baseball, the plate is the home base where the batter stands.
See also: plate, step, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

step up to the plate

take action in response to an opportunity, crisis, or challenge; take responsibility for something. chiefly North American
The expression originated in the language of baseball, where ‘the plate’ (in full, the ‘home plate’) is a rubber slab at one corner of the diamond where the batter stands when batting (roughly equivalent to the crease in cricket).
2004 Boston Globe Directors…need to step up to the plate in order for investors to feel comfortable that they are properly represented as shareholders.
See also: plate, step, up
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

step up to the plate

phr. to voluntarily assume responsibility for something. (From baseball, referring to a batter approaching home plate.) The company stepped up to the plate and paid for the time and effort I spent repairing the unit.
See also: plate, step, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

step up to the plate

Go ahead and act; don’t delay. This phrase comes from baseball, where it tells the batter to step up to home plate and prepare to bat the ball. From the late 1900s on it was frequently transferred to other enterprises, especially business and politics.
See also: plate, step, up
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • gopher ball
  • dust off the batter
  • squeeze play
  • beanball
  • the plate
  • pinch hitter
  • two strikes against someone/something, to have
  • curve ball
  • curveball
  • all eyes are on someone/something
References in periodicals archive
Definitely one for kids struggling to learn a new skill, as long as whoever's reading it to them can step up to the plate.
CHILDREN'S; book of the week
Definitely one for kids struggling learn a new skill, as long as whoever's reading it to them can step up to the plate.
children's book of the week
UP head coach Bo Perasol, who fielded a team without stars Paul Desiderio, Diego Dario and Juan Gomez De Liano, knew their final game in Group B would turn into a simulation of the UAAP and was time for his reserves to step up to the plate.
UP secures Filoil q'finals spot, eliminates NU
When Tiger went missing for a few years it gave a lot of players a chance to step up to the plate and win the big ones.
WOODS ERA HAS ENDED SAYS G-MAC
Youth America Grand Prix is always cause for celebration, not only because so many young people step up to the plate (this year 132 schools from 13 countries participated), but also because the grown-ups put on a darn good show.
Fountain of youth
If traditional insurers don't step up to the plate, buyers will find other alternatives.
Producing a winner: hard markets mean hard times for product development, but it doesn't have to be that way. (Property/Casualty: Product Development)
Interestingly, given the level of real estate trading still actively underway, there actually are a few buyers with the finesse and experience to conduct sophisticated and legal clean-ups who will step up to the plate and purchase a contaminated property under these extraordinary conditions.
Selling 'dirty property.'
Puncheon is ready to step up to the plate for bottom-of-the-table Saints against Aston Villa today.
PUNCHEON HIS WEIGHT AT LAST