low bar
Minimal achievement threshold
A low bar is a minimal standard that's easy to meet.
When someone sets a low bar, they're not asking much: Showing up on time is a pretty low bar.
To say something clears a low bar often implies it barely qualifies as acceptable.
The phrase frequently appears in criticism—That's a low bar to clear—suggesting praise is unwarranted because expectations were minimal.
Opposite of high bar.
- minimumSmallest possible quantity
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- standardLevel of quality accepted
- expectationBelief about future outcomes
- easyRequiring minimal effort
limbo · gymnastics · vault · high jump · mediocre · acceptable · good enough · entry level · baseline · hurdle · clearance · pass · bare minimum · bare bones · floor · benchmark · underwhelming · lackluster
- gymnasticsgymnastics, balance beam, floor exercise, handstand, back handspring
- Easy Thingseasy, simple, easy peasy, easy-peasy, easy as pie
- Standards & Benchmarksbenchmark, yardstick, gold standard, litmus test, acid test
- gymnastics equipmentbalance beam, pommel horse, rings, spring floor, still rings
low barhigh bar
Elevated gymnastics apparatus
high expectations · challenge · excellence · gold standard · perfectionism
low, bar, lower, lowest, lowly, lowness, bars, barred, barring