When You 'Raise the Bar,' Things Get Hard
2021-03-07
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2On this program we explore words and expressions in American English.
3Today we talk about a common idiom from sports: To raise the bar.
4To raise the bar means to set a high standard and to raise expectations.
5It can also mean to set higher goals.
6You can raise the bar for yourself or for others.
7But we often use this expression when someone's performance is much better than others.
8When you raise the bar, you increase the expectations of people who have settled into a way of doing things.
9For example, let's say a person is really good at playing a video game.
10If he joins a team game, his skill level will raise the bar.
11The other players will have to play better to come up to the new level of competition.
12When you use the expression, you can sometimes put a word before "bar."
13This will describe the situation better.
14For example, when a new intern started at VOA Learning English for his fall semester, he would wear a suit during online video meetings.
15Most of us who had been working at home for many months, did not dress up.
16We looked presentable, but our clothes were not formal.
17So, he really raised the clothing bar for our weekly meetings.
18Here is another example.
19Let's say you are invited to go to a potluck party.
20At a potluck party, everyone is supposed to bring one thing to drink or eat.
21You make a very tasty cake with four layers and fancy decorations.
22The host might say, "Wow you really raised the potluck bar for the rest of the people at the party."
23Word experts say people began using the idiom "raise the bar" around the turn of the twentieth century.
24It comes from the sport of track and field, specifically the high jump and the pole vault events.
25These events involve raising a bar incrementally, or a little at a time, to see how high the athletes can jump or vault over a bar.
26Now let's hear these two friends use the expression together.
27A: How's the new job going?
28B: Great! I go into the office an hour early every day and stay late almost every night. Plus, I get all my work done days ahead of my deadlines.
29A: Aren't you worried that you might be raising the bar a bit too high?
30B: No way! If other people can't perform as well, that's good for me, right?
31A: Well, you don't want to raise the bar SO high that one day YOU have trouble getting over it.
32B: You know, that's a really good point. I never thought of it like that.
33A: That's what friends are for.
34B: Maybe I'll ease up a little bit...
35A: Good idea.
36And that brings us to the end of this week's Words and Their Stories.
37When it comes to teaching American English, we hope we raise the bar just a little bit higher for English learners.
38Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2On this program we explore words and expressions in American English. Today we talk about a common idiom from sports: To raise the bar. 3To raise the bar means to set a high standard and to raise expectations. It can also mean to set higher goals. 4You can raise the bar for yourself or for others. But we often use this expression when someone's performance is much better than others. 5When you raise the bar, you increase the expectations of people who have settled into a way of doing things. For example, let's say a person is really good at playing a video game. If he joins a team game, his skill level will raise the bar. The other players will have to play better to come up to the new level of competition. 6When you use the expression, you can sometimes put a word before "bar." This will describe the situation better. 7For example, when a new intern started at VOA Learning English for his fall semester, he would wear a suit during online video meetings. Most of us who had been working at home for many months, did not dress up. We looked presentable, but our clothes were not formal. So, he really raised the clothing bar for our weekly meetings. 8Here is another example. 9Let's say you are invited to go to a potluck party. At a potluck party, everyone is supposed to bring one thing to drink or eat. You make a very tasty cake with four layers and fancy decorations. The host might say, "Wow you really raised the potluck bar for the rest of the people at the party." 10Word experts say people began using the idiom "raise the bar" around the turn of the twentieth century. 11It comes from the sport of track and field, specifically the high jump and the pole vault events. 12These events involve raising a bar incrementally, or a little at a time, to see how high the athletes can jump or vault over a bar. 13Now let's hear these two friends use the expression together. 14A: How's the new job going? 15B: Great! I go into the office an hour early every day and stay late almost every night. Plus, I get all my work done days ahead of my deadlines. 16A: Aren't you worried that you might be raising the bar a bit too high? 17B: No way! If other people can't perform as well, that's good for me, right? 18A: Well, you don't want to raise the bar SO high that one day YOU have trouble getting over it. 19B: You know, that's a really good point. I never thought of it like that. 20A: That's what friends are for. 21B: Maybe I'll ease up a little bit... 22A: Good idea. 23And that brings us to the end of this week's Words and Their Stories. When it comes to teaching American English, we hope we raise the bar just a little bit higher for English learners. 24Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 25Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 26_______________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28idiom -n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meaning of its separate words 29standard -n. a level of quality or performance that is considered acceptable or desired 30semester -n. one of two, half-year periods that make up an academic year at a school or college 31pole vault -n. an athletic event in which people compete by using a pole to jump over a bar this is high above the ground 32incrementally -n. a small amount by which something is made larger, greater or higher 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.