rise to the moment

[jctgf]

And while the road ahead will be long, and the work will be hard, I know that we can steer ourselves out of this crisis, because here in America we always rise to the moment, no matter how hard.

Hi,
I'd like to know if the underlined expression could be rephrased as "keep up to the challenge of the moment".
Also, I wonder if I can use this expression casually, like in "I don't know if I can rise to this job/task/challenge.".
Thanks.

[MrPedantic]

Hello JC,

You could paraphrase it as "to adjust to the increased demands of the task in hand".

In casual use, or for a task that was not particularly onerous, it might sound a little sarcastic.

Best wishes,

MrP

[David L.]

The expression, if not cliche, is usually 'rise to the occasion'.
"I don't know if I can rise to this job/task/challenge.".
You could say that with ease in the UK, but never...NEVER say this is America.
There, everything is at least put in a positive light; there's never any diffidence: it's always a 'we're gonna kick ass!' attitude.

Also, whatever activity you do pursue, perhaps achieving some great scientific breakthrough, then it was not work, or even, actually, out of deep intellectual interest: it was because looking for/discovering life on another planet "seemed a fun thing to do."

[jctgf]

There, everything is at least put in a positive light; there's never any diffidence: it's always a 'we're gonna kick ass!' attitude.

Hi David,
I am not sure I understand what you mean. Could you please explain this part of your reply?
Thanks.

[David L.]

Americans teem with self-confidence, so that expressing doubt about one's ability is an alien notion - at least, it is not expressed. It would never be, "Let's give it a try!" A positive outcome is always professed, nay, trumpeted.