Meaning
To raise the standard of quality or the level of expectation that people or products are held to; to set a new, higher benchmark that others must now meet or beat. Typically praise for an achievement that makes everything competing with it look ordinary, though it can also describe demands or requirements being increased. Usually followed by 'for': raises the bar for competitors. Pairs with the antonym lower the bar and the related set the bar. Ubiquitous in marketing and business copy, which has left it slightly worn; the sports metaphor remains transparent to most readers. Regional use: American reference works first; now common in US, British and international English, especially business and tech writing.
Origin
The metaphor comes from track and field. In high jump and pole vault the crossbar starts low and is raised after each successful clearance, and three consecutive missed jumps eliminate the jumper (Wikipedia, High jump) - so every round asks more than the last. The McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms glosses the phrase explicitly, 'as with raising the bar in high jumping or pole vaulting', and Merriam-Webster defines it as setting a higher standard, with the example of new software that raises the bar for competitors. Figurative use is modern: idiomorigins.org dates it to the late twentieth century, and none of the references consulted commits to a first-use year, so precise first-citation dates sometimes seen online should be treated with caution. The image has an obvious antonym in lower the bar and a related pattern in set the bar.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- bar-raiser
- lift the bar
- set the bar
Usage Examples
- The new electric car raises the bar for the whole industry, and rivals are scrambling to catch up.
- Each award-winning product raises the bar for what customers expect from us next.
- Critics said the championship performance raised the bar for every gymnast who follows her.