Hat Into The Ring Expression

What is the origin of the expression to throw ones hat into the ring.

Hat into the ring expression. To enter a contest. Definition of throwtoss ones hat ininto the ring. In United States during the 19th century men throwing hats into the ring was a way to challenge for a prizefight.

Throw your hat into the ring. The phrase soon came to be used figuratively to mean to enter a contest and then to enter a political contest. Throwtoss ones hat into the ring To enter a political race as a candidate for office.

After Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California it seemed like all sorts of celebrities tried tossing their hats in the ring for various political positions. Today the idiom nearly always refers to political candidacy. These of course used to be circular spaces in a crowd of onlookers rather than the square roped rings of contemporary pugilism.

Threw hat into the ring phrase. Make or take up a challenge or demonstrate ones willingness to join an enterprise. Issue a challenge or indicate ones interest in participating from the custom of a challenger throwing his hat into a boxing ring when a boxer takes on random opponents.

The phrase originally comes from boxing where contestants would literally throw their hats into the boxing ring as a signal that they wanted to. To become a candidate in an election. This expression comes from boxing where in the early nineteenth century the practice of throwing ones hat into the ring indicated a.

Putthrowtoss ones hat into the ring. This let the referee know he wanted to challenge another person in the boxing match. To announce your intention of entering a competition or election 2.