Idiom – Lower The Bar

Lower The Bar – Idiom of the Day

Meaning:

To lower expectations or standards

To set simpler rules than the previous, difficult ones

To make something easy

History: 

This phrase finds its origin around 1900 in athletic terminology. It comes from track and field game. The pole vault event and the high jump event involve raising a crossbar to comprehend how high the participants or the pole vault can jump. Thus, originally, it is from the area of high jump and pole vault where it is required to raise the bar after every jump to reach the newer record of the height so as to increase the competition. A bar, if set low, would be easier to jump in comparison to the bar that has been set high. This way, these two opposite idioms got originated together.

Synonyms:

• Set lower standards
• Lower the sights
• Keep it down

Examples:

Go through the examples to understand the usage of the idiom:

1. The revised bill aims to lower the bar for job seekers.
2. We have always been playing with the best opponents; thus, we cannot lower the bar.
3. I need a break so I am lowering my bar.
4. If it is not lowering the bar for employees, the system has to be altered.
5. To fill the vacated positions, plenty of companies are lowering the bar for new candidates.
6. I don’t believe in the notion that the only difference to fill the money-gap is to lower the bar.
7. The easy way to find apartments has lowered the bar for people to reside anywhere in the world.