step up to the plate
Verb
Meaning
step up to the plate (third-person singular simple present steps up to the plate, present participle stepping up to the plate, simple past and past participle stepped up to the plate)
(chiefly US, idiomatic) To initiate action; to assume or take a responsibility.
Synonyms: volunteer, offer
Synonyms
Examples
Most kids will not volunteer to eat veggies. At times you must step up to the plate and enforce the rule of authority as a parent.
There have been moments in my career when I've had to be tough and I've had to step up to the plate - but usually that's because a man has underestimated me. But other than that, I wouldn't say I'm a tough person.
We work in an environment where your options are to do, you know, Batman 10, so when you get to do a movie that's a really great film like this, people really step up to the plate and enjoy it.
Employee fathers need to step up to the plate and put their family needs on the table.
When the government is handed over to the Iraqi Council on 30 June, many have declared, oh, the Americans must never leave because civil unrest may erupt. Well, I agree, we cannot abruptly depart, but Iraq needs to step up to the plate on 30 June.
The reader really has to step up to the plate and read a short story.