Are you looking for a catch way to tell someone you expect more? You could say you want to “raise the bar.”
Dive into the meaning and origin of this expression in this post. If you’d like to use the phrase “raise the bar” in a sentence, we’ll also show you how.
Meaning
The phrase “to raise the bar” originated with high jumping competitions. It means to set an expectation of higher standards or better results.
This common expression can be neutral in tone, but calls to “raise the bar” are also frequently motivational in nature.
Example Usage
Would you like to incorporate the phrase “to raise the bar” into a sentence? We’ll show you how it’s done:
- “Our team has under-performed all season. We need to raise the bar to have any chance of winning!”
- “The recent influx of skilled workers has raised the bar across the industry, and we’ll need to keep up with the times.”
- “We did very well and exceeded all expectations. Let’s raise the bar and do even better this coming month!”
- “You may have raised the bar too high. If most students can’t accomplish the tasks you set, you will need to rethink your strategy.”
Origin
The idiom “to raise the bar” emerged somewhere in the early 1900s. It is a sports reference.
“Raising the bar” refers to high jump competitions, in which bars are placed at a specific height to invite participants to jump over them.
Each round literally raises the bar, eliminating athletes who fail to make the jump in the process. Only the best manage to keep up as the bar is raised; only the best will win.
The phrase “to raise the bar” means setting higher standards for the future. The idiom is often used in competitive settings relating to sports, business, and education.
You can, however, use this phrase whenever you need to indicate increased ambitions, a higher standard, better quality, or bigger challenges ahead.
“Raising the bar” is a metaphor with a neutral tone. You can freely use it in both casual and formal contexts, in writing as well as verbally.
Phrases Similar to Raise the Bar
Are you looking for another way to talk about setting higher standards? Instead of “raising the bar,” you could also say:
- Push the envelope — meaning to exceed existing limits.
- Go the extra mile — increasing your efforts to succeed.
- Go above and beyond — doing everything you can (and then some).
- Rise to the challenge.
If you don’t want to use idioms, you can also simply say “increase standards,” “do better,” or “raise expectations.”
Phrases Opposite to Raise the Bar
Lowering standards and accepting worse outcomes would be the opposite of raising the bar. You can turn to these idioms to help you out:
- Drop the ball — meaning failing or becoming complacent.
- Lose ground — meaning to fall behind.
- Back to square one — the failure was so complete you have to start from the beginning.
If you simply need to keep doing what you’re doing, you can talk about the need to “maintain the status quo.”
What Is the Correct Saying?
The correct saying is “to raise the bar.” This expression can be conjugated in any way, and means “to increase standards” or aim for better quality.
Ways People May Say Raise the Bar Incorrectly
English learners may assume that the idiom “to raise the bar” is related to making a toast at a bar. This would be incorrect.
Some people believe that the idiom should only be used in competitive settings. That is not true either. You can use the saying “to raise the bar” whenever you describe setting higher expectations.
Acceptable Ways to Say Raise the Bar
The idiom “to raise the bar” is a versatile one that immediately invokes a powerful idea. In the face of a new goal, participants will have to work harder and smarter to get better results.
Because it is neutral in tone, the phrase “to raise the bar” can be used in any setting.