litmus test
Noun
This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.003
Noun
litmus test (plural litmus tests)
- (chemistry) A simple test for the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, using litmus paper.
- (figuratively, by extension) Any test which produces a decisive result by measuring a single indicator.
- 1940, Allison Danzig, "Leading Elevens Face Stern Threats in Saturday's Games," New York Times, 2 Oct., p. 27,
- Temple, under its new coach, Ray Morrison, formerly of Vanderbilt, will be put to the blue litmus test Friday night when it takes on Georgetown.
- 1998, "Baby-Boomer Bonding," Newsweek, 16 Feb.,
- For good reasons or bad, early membership of the currency union has become the litmus test of being a "good European."
- 2004, Matthew Cooper, "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,995621,00.html Candidates In the Wings]," Time, 15 Nov.,
- He opposes a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage—a litmus test for many social conservatives
- 1940, Allison Danzig, "Leading Elevens Face Stern Threats in Saturday's Games," New York Times, 2 Oct., p. 27,
- (figuratively, by extension, chiefly US, politics) A question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which determines whether the nominating official would proceed with the appointment or nomination.
- German: Lackmustest, Nagelprobe, Prüfstein
- Italian: cartina tornasole
This text is extracted from the Wiktionary and it is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license | Terms and conditions | Privacy policy 0.003