lower the bar

lower the bar

To lower the standards of quality that are expected of or required for something. Soaring rents have really lowered the bar for where people are willing to live these days. During the economic boom, regulators lowered the bar for investment bankers' accountability.
See also: bar, lower
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • bar
  • belly up to the bar
  • keep down
  • keep it down
  • lower (one's) voice
  • lower voice
  • at half-staff
  • lower the tone
  • boozy
  • be at half-mast
References in periodicals archive
The government must lower the bar to create a better and a more efficient society," he said.
[INTERVIEW] Yuan on course toward 7.5 per dollar by year-end
"But we came to the conclusion that he, the footballer who played for Barcelona and Manchester City, could not lower the bar."
Yaya finally hangs his boots up
Lower the bar back your starting position while standing and repeat.
Weight loss tips: Landmine exercise - what is it and 3 ways to use at the gym; Mirror Online Sport fitness columnist LEO SAVAGE provides his full-proof tips to one piece of gym equipment that can be used in the wrong way
Yet, we don't want cross-strait leaders to follow suit and lower the bar on political discourse and diplomacy of all types.
Taiwan, China send wrong signals during Lunar New Year celebrations
Lower the bar for your expectations of your toddler - and yourself.
It's a toddle; Travel INSIDERS expert advice & money-saving tips
BBOG should be patient and lower the bar of their expectations since recent videos posted on the internet by the insurgents have revealed that some of the girls are now married to their captors with children and have expressed a desire not to return back to their families in Nigeria.
Restrategising BBOG campaign
Bitcoin plumbed a new 24-hour low of $9,222 posting an over 18.5% loss (Bitstamp) and continues to lower the bar as selling begets more selling in the wake of both S.
Bitcoin plumbed a new 24-hour low of $9,222
"This costly inaction has the potential to undermine the fight against impunity, the effect of which is to lower the bar of accountability that many have fought to raise," Bensouda said.
Failure to arrest Sudan's al-Bashir undermines impunity: ICC prosecutor
To address this, the attorney general has helped introduce legislation that would lower the bar for this crime, making it easier to prosecute.
Landlord headed to Rikers Island
The latter situation could, however, lower the bar for a lawsuit if any neurologic pathology is diagnosed in the child.
Cord gas analysis can be beneficial but has drawbacks
Scottish music seems to always be wanting to lower the bar to get its music played whereas I say we don't need that, our musical output is good enough to compete at a national level, so let's do it.
AIRWAVES CONTROVERSY
Lower the bar down to your chest but not to rest on your chest.
YOUR FITNESS with Aron Simpson - You need to be and pull
BOBBY BARR insists Brechin have had to lower the bar on their season after a miserable March.
LEAGUE ONE; MORTON v BRECHIN
Last season's league games saw Sunderland pick up three red cards, the cup defeat featured some kamikaze defending, and this season's festive flop saw referee Andre Marriner lower the bar, even by his own standards.
Hull City v Sunderland preview: He who laughs last, laughs loudest; Ex-Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has held an Indian sign over his old club, but it's time Gus Poyet had the last laugh