throw one's hat in the ring

• throw one's hat into the ring
• toss one's hat in the ring

From the former practice of throwing one's hat into the boxing ring in order to challenge a boxer.

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throw one's hat in the ring (third-person singular simple present throws one's hat in the ring, present participle throwing one's hat in the ring, simple past threw one's hat in the ring, past participle thrown one's hat in the ring)

1. (idiomatic) To announce one's candidacy in a contest.
   • 2009, Patricia Shaw, Quadrant, November 2009, No. 461 (Volume LIII, Number 11), Quadrant Magazine Limited, page 107:

     At that time her chances had been excellent. But then two other people had thrown their hats in the ring, Joan Voller and Sidney Hamilton, and both of them were colleagues on State Executive.

• put one's name in the hat

• throw down the gauntlet