lower the bar

verb

to lower the standards of quality that are expected of or required for something.

Opposite
raise the barlift the bar
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Meanings

verblower the bar (third-person singular simple present lowers the bar, present participle lowering the bar, simple past and past participle lowered the bar)

present singular third person lowers the bar · participle present lowering the bar · participle past lowered the bar · past lowered the bar

  1. idiomaticto lower the standards of quality that are expected of or required for something.

    Antonyms: raise the bar, lift the bar

Synonyms & antonyms

verbto lower the standards of quality that are expected of or required for something.

Opposite
raise the barlift the bar

Translations

Finnish laskea rimaa
  • laskea rimaato lower standards
Polish obniżać poprzeczkę, obniżyć poprzeczkę
  • obniżać poprzeczkęto lower standards
  • obniżyć poprzeczkęto lower standards
Cite this entry
APA

lower the bar. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20bar

MLA

“lower the bar.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20bar. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lower the bar,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lower%20the%20bar.

Source: lower the bar on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.