acid test

noun

1. a severe and conclusive test to establish quality, genuineness, worth, etc.

acid test

noun

1. a rigorous and conclusive test to establish worth or value

   the play passed the critic's acid test

Word History and Origins

Origin of acid test¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Word History and Origins

Origin of acid test¹

C19: from the testing of gold with nitric acid

Idioms and Phrases

A decisive trial to determine worth or quality, as in Exposure to brilliant sunlight is the acid test for showing this fabric won't fade . Alluding to a 19th-century chemical test for distinguishing gold from other metals, this term was used figuratively by the early 1900s.

Example Sentences

In his new book Acid Test, author Tom Shroder tells the story of Nick, a veteran haunted by PTSD.

From The Daily Beast

“The issue we have now is the critical acid test for our relationship,” Faily said.

From The Daily Beast

The debt ceiling vote will be something close to an acid test that this budget deal represents a cease fire in the budget wars.

From The Daily Beast

It may be painful, but this is an acid test for Republicans.

From The Daily Beast

It was an acid test of his sanity and he knew as he worked that his reasoning faculties at least had suffered no impairment.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the crystallizer of character, the acid test of friendship, the final seal set upon enmity.

From Project Gutenberg

The acid test is conducted as with milk (see Chapter II) except the starter must be rinsed out of the pipette with pure water.

From Project Gutenberg

The physical properties and acid test are closely correlated with the presence of the desired organisms.

From Project Gutenberg

Few Brick cheese-makers use an acid test or a starter but these precautions would improve the product of many factories.

From Project Gutenberg