litmus : Idioms & Phrases


Litmus paper

  • noun unsized paper treated with litmus for use as an acid-base indicator
WordNet
  • (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, used in testing for acids or alkalies.
Webster 1913

litmus test

  • noun a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator
    litmus.
  • noun a test that relies on a single indicator
    • her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives
WordNet