Lower the bar

Meaning

The idiom "lower the bar" generally means to make something easier or less difficult. It can also mean to accept or tolerate something that is considered inferior or below standard.

Usage

• The new CEO has decided to lower the bar for sales targets this year, which has boosted morale among employees.
• When it comes to online dating, some people have very high standards, but others are willing to lower the bar and settle for something less than perfect.
• As a student, I used to be really competitive with my classmates, but now that we're in graduate school, I've learned to lower the bar and focus on my own progress instead of comparing myself to others.
• After watching several terrible movies in a row, I finally decided to lower the bar for what constitutes a good film and settled for some mindless entertainment.
• In the face of criticism, politicians often try to lower the bar by shifting their focus away from controversial issues and onto more popular or uncontroversial ones.

Roots and History

The idiom "lower the bar" dates back to at least the 16th century. One of the earliest known uses of the phrase can be found in a collection of proverbs compiled by John Heywood in 1546: "To lower the barre of your stomach, to lengthen your appétit." This means to eat more or increase appetite. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has evolved to encompass other contexts beyond just eating. In contemporary language, it is often used in a figurative sense to describe how someone is making something easier or less difficult.

Synonyms in English

• Simplify
• Reduce
• Relax
• Lower expectations
• Ease up

Synonyms in other languages

• Baisser la barre (French) - To lower the bar
• Abbassare il livello di difficoltà (Italian) - To lower the level of difficulty
• 低丑 (Japanese) - To lower the mood or atmosphere
• Sänkt ditt uttryck (Swedish) - To lower your tone or expression
• 欲望降低 (Chinese) - To lower one's desire or craving

Similar Idioms

• as simple as that

• last long

• low hanging fruit