The story
Ellipsis of step up to the plate (“take one's turn at bat, take responsibility”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
step up
Today it means: To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps. Full definition →
Today it means: To increase, augment, or advance, especially by one or more steps. Full definition →
Ellipsis of step up to the plate (“take one's turn at bat, take responsibility”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.