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take the field

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take the field

Enter a competition, as in The country's best spellers took the field in the national spelling bee. This term originated around 1600 when it meant "to open a military campaign." The field here is the field of battle. The term has been used figuratively almost as long, the first recorded use being in 1614.

See also: field, take

take the field

To begin or resume activity, as in a sport or military operations.

See also: field, take