🗓️ Idiom: Rise to the Occasion (v)
💬 Meaning
- To perform better than usual in response to a special or challenging situation.
- To successfully meet the demands of a difficult task or unexpected challenge.
🧠 Example Sentences
- When the lead presenter called in sick, Sarah rose to the occasion and delivered a flawless pitch.
- Despite pressure from competitors, the sales team rose to the occasion and secured the contract.
- The marketing intern really rose to the occasion during the product launch event.
🏛️ Origin
This phrase dates back to the 19th century and originally referred to someone physically rising (standing up) in response to a challenge or opportunity. Over time, it evolved to refer to someone’s ability to meet high expectations or face adversity with success.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
When the team leader resigned unexpectedly, she __________ and took charge.
Answer
rose to the occasion
2. Choose the correct meaning of “rise to the occasion”:
A) To avoid taking responsibility
B) To fail under pressure
C) To do what is required in a difficult situation
Answer
C) To do what is required in a difficult situation
3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:
“He handled the challenge impressively and didn’t disappoint.” → Change the sentence using: rise to the occasion
Answer
He rose to the occasion and didn’t disappoint.
ℹ️ Other Useful Pages
👉 Marketing and Sales Idioms
👉 Business English Idioms List
👉 Student Space
👉 Tutor Toolkit
Leave a Reply