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).

2004Boston Globe Directors…need to step up to the plate in order for investors to feel comfortable that they are properly represented as shareholders.