Put Through One’s Paces
To be thoroughly tested. The allusion here is to a horse being tried out by a possible buyer. Used literally in the mid-eighteenth century, it was transferred to human beings a century later. B. Taylor had it in Faust (1871): “I see she means to put him through his paces.”
Synonyms:
- Tested thoroughly
- Tried and tested
- Gone through the grindstone
- Put through the wringer
Related Expressions:
- Through the mill 🌾: To experience a lot of difficulties or suffering.
- Baptism by fire 🔥: Undergoing a difficult and challenging first experience.
- Trial by fire 🔥: Tests endurance and makes one prove their mettle under stressful circumstances.
Antonyms:
- Untouched
- Unchallenged
- Untested
- Untried
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “Only a thoroughbred closes a deal just as swiftly as they gallop through the paces.”*
- “Life’s greatest delight: the leisure of feeling untested while sipping your morning cuppa.”*
Proverbs and References:
- “You can’t know how deep the stream is until you wade in.”*
- In the wise words attributed to Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Literature Suggestions:
- Dune by Frank Herbert 📚: Full of tests and challenges, leading characters are constantly put through their paces.
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 📚: Questions societal stability and individual freedom, testing its characters thoroughly.
Movie Suggestions:
- Rocky (1976) 🥊: Watch Rocky Balboa put through the paces of grueling training for his shot at the title.
- The Karate Kid (1984) 🥋: Witness a young Daniel LaRusso being put through his paces by Mr. Miyagi.
Songs:
- “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor 🎵: Truly captures the essence of being tested and rising to the challenge.
- “We Are the Champions” by Queen 🎵: Celebratory anthem for those who’ve been through their paces and emerged victorious.
Poetry:
- “If—” by Rudyard Kipling: Encourages perseverance and being put through one’s paces in every stanza.
Intriguing Quiz Section:
### Which phrase means the same as 'put through one's paces'?
- [x] Tested thoroughly
- [ ] Running with scissors
- [ ] Handing over the reins
- [ ] Climbing the corporate tree
> **Explanation:** When you're put through your paces, you're tested thoroughly—whether it's in a literal sense with a horse or figuratively with a person.
### Which of these expressions is related to Difficult Experiences?
- [ ] Through the blooming meadow
- [ ] Riding the merry-go-round
- [x] Through the mill
- [ ] Chasing butterflies
> **Explanation:** "Through the mill" signifies experiencing tough situations, much like being thoroughly tested.
### Identify the true idiom:
- [ ] Running through rainbows
- [x] Baptism by fire
- [ ] Flying with dodos
- [ ] Swimming in chocolate
> **Explanation:** "Baptism by fire" is an idiom that means going through a challenging and tough initial experience.
As you journey through the Dictionary of Clichés, remember life’s ultimate test: enjoying every step of the way. And may you emerge victoriously from every paces-testing challenge that comes.
Yours truly, P. J. Proverbial October 2023
