English Idioms

Raise the Bar

Meaning:

to set a higher standard or expectation for performance, achievement, or quality

Frequency of Use: Medium

1. The new smartphone design has really raised the bar for the whole industry.
2. After winning the national championship, the team raised the bar for future seasons.
3. Her research paper raised the bar for what the professor expected from the class.
4. The teacher raised the bar by asking students to give longer, more detailed presentations.
5. This year’s marathon is raising the bar with tougher qualifying times.

1. Can you think of a time when someone raised the bar for you in school, sports, or work? How did it affect you?
2. Do you think raising the bar always motivates people, or can it sometimes discourage them? Why?
3. In what areas of life would you like to raise the bar for yourself?

Situation:
You are part of a student club that organizes events. Last year’s event was successful, but this year one of the members suggests adding live music, more decorations, and professional catering. Some people feel nervous because it will be a lot of extra work, but the member insists it will make the event more impressive. What are some possible ways to make future events even better?

Possible Answer with the Idiom:
“Last year’s event was great, but adding live music and catering really raises the bar. It’ll be more work, but it could make our club stand out.”

Possible Answer without the Idiom:
“Those ideas make the event much bigger and more challenging, but they could also make it more special and memorable.”

Sometimes, learners know the meaning of an idiom, but they don’t know how to use it correctly in conversation or writing. Thus, this activity checks your grammatical accuracy with the idiom so you become more confident in using it. 

Randall: Do you know what it means to raise the bar?

Randall: It’s an idiom that means to push beyond what’s expected to do, beyond what is just good enough for everyone else. And I had a friend who didn’t just raise the bar. She launched it into orbit. I mean, she started a job as a community event coordinator, and when she arrived, the events were honestly just so sad. Fluorescent lights, folding chairs, a tray of off-brand cookies. People just came out of obligation and . . . .and not excitement.

Randall: But when she saw something more, she redesigned everything. She brought in local artists and musicians and food trucks and kids programs. She even convinced the mayor to show up to one, and it went from sleepy gatherings to full-blown festivals that people actually came to. And I remember standing there at one of those events, music playing, lights strung across the park, and thinking, this used to be bingo night in a basement. And so much has changed.

Randall: And that’s what it means to raise the bar. It’s not about being flashy for the sake of it. It’s about refusing to accept, meh . . ., when you know amazing things are possible. And yeah, it took guts. Time. Push back. And she’s not just organizing events. She has redefined what is possible in a community. So ask yourself about this idiom: What are you raising the bar on in your life?