acid test

Definition

A test involving the reaction of an acid with another chemical.

Etymology

From acid + test; sense 1 (“test involving the reaction of an acid with another chemical”) and sense 2 (“rigorous test or appraisal of the quality or worth of something”) refer to the use of nitric acid to test if a metal is gold; true gold is not affected by the acid. Sense 3 (“party based around the use and advocacy of the psychedelic drug LSD”) is a pun referencing the slang term acid (“LSD”). The original “acid test” parties were thrown by the Merry Pranksters group between 1965 and 1966 and advertised by the slogan “Can you pass the acid test?”

Example Sentences

• "[H]e reflected that few professional beauties could have stood, as this woman did, the acid test of that mercilessly brilliant morning."
• ""Eggs, Parker," said Freddie solemnly, "are the acid test!" / "Yes, sir?" / "If, on the morning after, you can tackle a poached egg, you are all right. If not not. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise.""
• "The acid test: will the British public abide by such stringent guidelines about where they should stand, walk or sit in our stations and on our trains, when they have been used to a turn-up-and-go railway where they enjoyed freedom having bought their ticket?"