Quality

step up your game

Meaning: to improve the performance, quality, skill, or talents.

Example: Matthew said to Sarah, "Step up your game," to which she replied, "I already have by memorizing every act in Shakespeare's The Tempest this week." Read on

not all it’s cracked up to be

Meaning: Not as good as people say it is.

Example: The highly ranked institutions in Boston aren't all they're cracked up to be. Read on

class act

Meaning: high-quality performance or display; additionally, the performer

Example: LeBron James has truly been a class act in basketball long before he entered the NBA. Read on

straight shooter

Meaning: someone who speaks the truth

Example: I really like Ken. He's a straight shooter, that's for sure. Read on

set the bar

Meaning: fix the standards acceptable for the task

Example: Don't set the bar so high that it's impossible to achieve anything. Read on

lower the bar

Meaning: to lower standards or expectations

Example: The revision bill aims to lower the bar on picking candidates. Read on

raise the bar

Meaning: to be better than what went before

Example: Our family is so competitive. Now that my cousin has gone to university, everyone will expect me and my brother to raise the bar too. Read on

stand in a good stead

Meaning: to be of advantage to someone

Example: His years of experience in the spoken English field has stood him in good stead. Read on

live wire

Meaning: an energetic and volatile person

Example: John is such a live wire; he is a good source of entertainment. Read on

all that glitters is not gold

Meaning: the shining outer look of something is not a consistent sign of its real character

Example: My grandmother advised me to be careful about making new friends because all that glitters is not gold. Read on

Next Idioms ❯