If you want this promotion, you're going to have to 'step up to the plate'. [=you will have to improve your work performance to show that you deserve the promotion]
She has a lot 'on her plate' right now. [=she has a lot of things that she has to deal with right now]
He was handed the job 'on a plate'. [=he was given the job without having to do anything to earn it]
(..) And you're just ignoring her. - A giant brain? Yeah, there's a giant brain, there's a shifty character... I'm going to follow this guy. I'm going to run his plates and if it gets rough, so be it. I miss you, Happy. - Yeah, I miss you too but the way it used to be. I don't know what's going on (..)2013 Iron Man 3