put one through paces

put one through one's paces

 and put something through its paces

Fig. to give someone or something a thorough test; to show what someone or something can do. I brought the young gymnast out and put her through her paces.

See also: one, pace, put, through

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.