bar of expectation

USAGE SUMMARY

'bar of expectation' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to the general level of expectation regarding something. For example: "The bar of expectation for success in the program was high, but the students managed to exceed it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Baltimore's Joe Flacco drew a lot of criticism for his five interceptions against Buffalo last week, and much of it was merited; when you sign a $120.6m contract, the bar of expectation has to be raised.

The Guardian - Sport

With the bar of expectation set, I flew out of Melbourne on a Friday afternoon for the one-hour journey to the regional city, which sits on the NSW side of the border next to the Murray river.

The Guardian - Travel

I wanted the bar of expectation to be just as high as everyone else's, if not higher.

Huffington Post

You, with your glittering perfection and your attractive bar of expectation and your promises for love and acceptance and significance, if I'll just do this.

Huffington Post

Yet, the even more unequivocal statements of condemnation from U.N. President Miguel D'Escoto, the Organization of American States, the European Union, and the Presidents of Argentina, Costa Rica and many other governments raise greatly the bar of expectation before the Obama Administration.

Huffington Post

The extraordinary sensitivity of these assays has served to raise the bar of expectation of test veracity, while improving practicality and containing costs.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

But with few on Wall Street expecting anything good to come out of this situation, the bar of expectations has been set awfully low.

Forbes

The bar of expectations was so low they thought Miliband would trip over it.

Independent

"They made it clear that they wanted to lower the bar" of expectations, one lawyer said.

The New York Times

Anyone who observes politics closely has a very low bar of expectations.

The Guardian - Opinion

The remarks are aimed at voters to raise the bar of expectations for Mr. Obama's support of Israel on Iran.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bar of expectation" to emphasize a specific standard or level that needs to be met, especially when discussing performance or achievement. For instance, "The new regulations raised the "bar of expectation" for environmental compliance."

Common error

Avoid using "bar of expectation" interchangeably with general hopes or desires. The phrase implies a concrete, measurable level, not just a vague aspiration. If you mean general hopes, consider using "level of anticipation" or "anticipated outcome" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bar of expectation" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a specific level or standard that is expected or anticipated. According to Ludwig, the phrase is used correctly in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bar of expectation" is a grammatically sound and correctly used noun phrase that defines a specific level of anticipated achievement. While it's not a very common expression, Ludwig confirms its proper usage in written English. It often appears in news articles and scientific publications to describe standards or benchmarks, such as "The new regulations raised the "bar of expectation" for environmental compliance."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

level of expectation

Replaces "bar" with "level", focusing on the degree of anticipation rather than a fixed standard.

standard of expectation

Substitutes "bar" with "standard", highlighting the established level of performance expected.

benchmark of expectation

Emphasizes the role of "expectation" as a reference point or standard against which something is measured.

expected standard

Combines the concepts of expectation and standard into a single phrase.

anticipated level

Focuses on the expected degree or amount, omitting the "bar" metaphor.

performance threshold

Highlights the minimum level of performance required to meet expectations.

required level of performance

Specifies the degree of performance necessary to fulfill expectations.

criterion for success

Shifts the focus to the requirements that must be met to achieve a positive outcome.

minimum requirement

Emphasizes the lowest acceptable level of expectation or performance.

anticipated outcome

Focuses on the predicted result or consequence, rather than the level of expectation itself.

FAQs

How can I use "bar of expectation" in a sentence?

You can use "bar of expectation" to refer to a specific standard or level that needs to be met. For example, "The company's success exceeded the "bar of expectation" set by analysts."

What's a good alternative to "bar of expectation"?

Alternatives include "level of expectation", "standard of expectation", or "anticipated level depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "raise the bar of expectation"?

Yes, "raise the bar of expectation" is a common and correct usage. It means to increase the standard or level that is expected.

What's the difference between "bar of expectation" and "burden of expectation"?

"Bar of expectation" refers to a specific standard or level, while "burden of expectation" refers to the pressure or weight associated with meeting those expectations. "Burden of expectation" implies a sense of stress or difficulty.