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litmus test

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
litmus test 
1. Lit. a test used to determine the acidity or alkalinity of chemical substances. (Acid turns litmus paper red and alkaline compounds turn it blue.) I used a litmus test to show that the compound was slightly acid.
2. Fig. a question or experiment that seeks to determine the state of one important factor. His performance on the long exam served as a litmus test to determine whether he would go to college. The amount of white cells in my blood became the litmus test for diagnosing my disease.
See also: litmus, test
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Whether he allows his ministers to be prosecuted is being seen as a litmus test by the west.
Arrest warrant issued against two ministers in Karzai's cabinet by Asian News International
We're so pleased and very proud that we have passed the ultimate litmus test," Philip tells Insider.
Style chemistry is just right; TheInsider by Liverpool Echo (Liverpool, England)
Protection of the Maldives and other low-lying areas will be the litmus test.
Greed the enemy by Gulf Daily News (Manama, Bahrain)
 
 
 
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