put someone through their paces
The idiom "put someone through their paces" originates from equestrianism, where it means to test a horse's abilities. It's now commonly used to describe evaluating someone's skills or performance.
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Definition
B2General
(informal)To evaluate someone's skills or abilities by having them perform various tasks.
Example
- The new recruits were put through their paces during the training session.
- Before hiring the candidate, the company put her through her paces with a series of tests.
C1Equestrianism
(technical)To direct a horse to perform different gaits such as walking, cantering, and trotting.
Example
- The rider put the horse through its paces to ensure it was ready for the competition.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "put someone through their paces":