To perform exceptionally well or show great ability when faced with a challenging or important situation that demands one's best effort.
This phrase emerged in the 18th century, drawing from the literal sense of 'rising' to meet a challenge. The word 'occasion' comes from Latin 'occasio,' meaning opportunity or favorable moment, suggesting that challenges are opportunities for greatness.
The phrase captures a fascinating aspect of human psychology - that people often perform better under pressure than in normal circumstances. Sports psychologists call this 'clutch performance,' and research shows that some individuals actually thrive when stakes are highest, possibly due to increased adrenaline and focus.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.