What is the meaning of the phrase ‘Bring it on’?
I’m prepared, no matter the challenge. Bring the challenge.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘Bring it on’?
The idiom ‘Bring it on’ is of fairly recent origin, coming from the world of competitive sports, and in particular boxing, in the 20th century. It was a way for opponents to signify their readiness and eagerness to fight with the other opponent/s. It was simply a way of saying ‘Bring the fight/match/competition on’ when talking about the match or fight.
By the mid-20th century, the phrase also gained traction in military jargon. This included within various training contexts, as a way of signifying confidence and readiness.
The phrase began to appear more frequently in popular culture in the 1980s and 1990s and with this, the meaning of the phrase expanded. Now, instead of merely meaning ‘Bring the fight on’ it now began to mean ‘Bring the challenge on’.
With this expanded meaning, the phrase ‘Bring it on’ can now refer to the readiness and/or eagerness for any challenge. The challenge could, for example, be sports or competition related, or related to a business or hobby project, or it could even be referring to parenthood and relationships, and their various challenges.
Today, you will find the phrase frequently used in social commentary, motivational talks and as inspirational memes in social media.
What are some notable uses of the phrase ‘Bring it on’?
Perhaps the most famous use of the phrase ‘Bring it on’ is through the release of the film ‘Bring it on’ released in the year 2000, about competitive high school cheerleading, which later went on to lead to several sequels and even a musical adaptation.
There have also been three songs called ‘Bring it on’ including one by Seal in 1994, one by Jay-Z in 1996, and one by Lenny Kravitz in 2004.
The phrase has also been used in the Marvel film ‘The Avengers’, the US TV series ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, and the US TV series ‘Friends’.
Similarly, the idiom has been used in modern literature as well, including in ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins, and in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ by
