the right stuff

Related to the right stuff: John Glenn, Chuck Yeager

the right stuff

Personal attributes or character traits that are considered necessary to succeed or do something well. We are having all applicants write an article for the magazine to see whether they have the right stuff to be hired full time.
See also: right, stuff
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the right stuff

character traits considered to be prerequisites of manliness, notably courage and resolution.
The phrase was popularized as the title of a book ( 1979 ) by Tom Wolfe , in which the qualities were attributed to US test pilots, but it existed before then.
See also: right, stuff
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • show (one's) mettle
  • prove (one's) mettle
  • stay in character
  • hit below (one's) weight
  • punch below (one's) weight
  • hit above (one's) weight
  • punch above (one's) weight
  • punch above your weight
  • punch above/below your weight
  • look beneath the surface
References in periodicals archive
Given the political climate of the 1980s, it's instructive to observe how The Right Stuff handles "government." President Reagan's favorite mantra was that government was the problem, not the solution, and the film largely shares this point of view.
Even their great leadership would not have been effective, however, if the American people had not had enough of the right stuff to respond.
Kaswell believes Cox has the right stuff to receive confirmation and navigate any subsequent scrutiny thereafter.
Feb.7--The Real Estate Board of New York will hold a 7.5-hour residential continuing education course, "'The Right Stuff for a Real Estate Broker." Members: $40 per person.
Without equivocation, they demonstrated the right stuff to run the leading 1,000 publicly traded corporations.
* The Right Stuff -- Equipping a mirror site with the right technology is important, but it doesn't have to be expensive.
It is rightfully named, "The Right Stuff," which brings me to the more important inaccuracy.
"In order for them (warfighters) to be there, they have to have the right stuff at the right time," said Wagner, associate administrator, of GSA's Office of Government Policy.
Looking for the right stuff to fuel your brain and body?
There is a lot of competition and the pair are still in the process of proving to potential clients that they have the right stuff to get the job done.
Maybe I didn't show the right stuff, maybe Ileana didn't like it, or maybe it was unsuccessful.
WHEN CHOOSING CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES, GETTING THE RIGHT STUFF FOR THE OCCASION CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO YOUR PERFORMANCE, PLEASURE--AND POCKET.
If you don't really trust your own little Robocop to find the Right Stuff, you can always go manual and find what you want to record yourself.
The right stuff. P&G executives describe their company as "data driven"-- not a place for decisions based on gut feelings.
Cisco's new 12416 Internet router made a very impressive debut in our tests, showing it has the right stuff to compete in what looks to be a two-horse race."