raise the bar

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Verb

raise the bar (third-person singular simple present raises the bar, present participle raising the bar, simple past and past participle raised the bar)

1. (idiomatic) To raise standards or expectations, especially by creating something to a higher standard.

   Synonym: lift the bar

   Antonym: lower the bar

   Acme's new technology will raise the bar for the entire industry.

Translations

to raise standards

• Bulgarian: да вди́гна ле́твата (da vdígna létvata)
• Finnish: nostaa rimaa
• French: mettre la barre plus haut
• Hungarian: megemeli a mércét
• Italian: alzare l'asticella
• Polish: podnosić poprzeczkę (pl) impf, podnieść poprzeczkę pf
• Portuguese: levantar o padrão
• Russian: подня́ть планку (podnjátʹ planku)
• Swedish: höja ribban

See also

• push the envelope
• set the bar

Further reading

• “raise the bar” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.