Question

Throw Your Hat into the Ring to announce one's candidacy for election to office; to issue a challenge

Accepted Answer

Dave threw his hat into the ring today. He's running for class secretary. Men used to challenge each other to prizefights in the United States in the early 19th century by taking off their hats and throwing them into a ring on the ground. That custom became the basis for this idiom. People who state that they are running for any elective office are "throwing their hats into the ring."

Idiom	Throw Your Hat into the Ring
Example	Dave threw his hat into the ring today. He's running for class secretary.
Meaning	to announce one's candidacy for election to office; to issue a challenge
Origin	Men used to challenge each other to prizefights in the United States in the early 19th century by taking off their hats and throwing them into a ring on the ground. That custom became the basis for this idiom. People who state that they are running for any elective office are "throwing their hats into the ring."

Ring Hat Running Challenge Throw Dave Threw Today