All phrases › move the needle
What does “move the needle” mean?
Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.
C1
To make a noticeable, meaningful difference
“None of these small tweaks are really moving the needle.”
From the C1 lesson Getting Down to Business (meetings).
Quick check
What does “move the needle” mean?
Teaching this phrase?“move the needle” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 3 (Money, Food, Work and Travel).
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Related phrases
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- low-hanging fruitthe easiest tasks or wins to tackle first
- a sticking pointan issue that keeps blocking agreement or progress
- reach a consensusto arrive at a decision everyone can accept
- streamline a processto make a process simpler and more efficient
- loop someone into include someone by informing them
- get buy-in fromto gain someone's support or agreement for a plan
- table an ideato formally put forward an idea for discussion (British usage; in American English, 'table' can mean the opposite: to postpone)