A test to determine acidity or alkalinity, using litmus as an inddicator.
A test for a single factor, which has only two outcomes, positive or negative;
the question of whether a candidate for office is for or against a particular position on an issue; -- used, e.g. by voters concerned predominantly with a single issue, to decide whether to vote for or against a candidate; as, many voters take a candidate's position on abortion as their litmus test.
a test that shows the true nature of what is being tested. This phrase comes from the world of chemistry; litmus paper is coated with a dye that turns red in contact with acids and blue in contact with alkaline solutions.
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
a test that relies on a single indicator; "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives"
a common chemical test that determines the alkalinity or acidity (the pH) of a solution by a resultant color, with acidic or alkalinic solutions coming out red or blue respectively
a test in which a single factor - in this case abortion - is decisive in making a decision
a test in which a single factor is decisive in proving the presence or absence of something
A term adopted from chemistry to mean a test to serve as a yes or no criterion for some decision, especially regarding suitability for public office based on an individual's view of prenatal child-killing. Hurled in an accusatory manner by Birthists and necropimps when pro-lifers object to a necrochoicer as a nominee but never used by necrochoicers in such fashion when abortionmongers reject a pro-lifer for the same reason. See also POLITICALLY CORRECT. SECTION: M
Litmus is a water-soluble dye extracted from certain lichens, especially Roccella tinctoria, and absorbed on to filter paper. The resulting piece of paper becomes a p H indicator (one of the oldest), used to test materials for acidity. Blue litmus paper turns red under acidic conditions and red litmus paper turns blue under basic (i.e. alkaline) conditions, the colour change occurring over the p H range 4.5-8.3 (at 25°C).
A litmus test is a question asked of a potential candidate for high office, the answer to which would determine whether the nominating official would choose to proceed with the appointment or nomination. Those who must approve a nominee, such as a United States Senator, may also be said to apply a litmus test to determine whether the nominee will receive their vote. In these contexts, the phrase comes up most often with respect to nominations to the judiciary.
