ハードルが上がる: When someone 'raises the bar' too high

You've surely been in a situation where the person before you did something so exceptionally well that you thought to yourself, "Oh no, how am I supposed to follow that?" That feeling of invisible pressure when expectations are suddenly raised sky-high is perfectly described by a great Japanese phrase: 「ハードルが上がる」(hādoruga ga agaru).

ハードル (hurdle) is the bar in high jump or pole vaulting 🏃‍♂️. When the bar is raised (上がる), the athlete has to jump higher. Similarly, in communication, when someone does too well, the "standard bar" is automatically raised for the next person.

Moments when "the bar is raised" in daily life

This is a super useful and frequently used phrase. Let's look at a few examples!

1. When the person before you gives a great presentation/sings beautifully 🎤

This is the most classic situation. You're waiting for your turn at a presentation or a karaoke session. The person right before you gives a stellar performance that earns thunderous applause.

友達：さっきの田中さんのプレゼン、完璧だったね！ (Tanaka-san's presentation just now was perfect!)

あなた：うん、めっちゃハードル上がったわ… どうしよう… 😅 (Yeah, the bar has been raised way too high... what should I do...)

This statement both praises the person before you and humorously expresses your own pressure.

2. When you accidentally 'brag' too soon 👨‍🍳

Sometimes, you're the one who raises the bar for yourself. For example, you confidently tell your friends:

「今日の俺の料理、マジで期待してて！(You can really look forward to my cooking today!)」

If the dish turns out to be just "okay," your friends might tease you:

「へぇ、これが？自分でハードル上げたわりに普通だね（笑）」 (Huh, this? For someone who raised the bar themselves, it's pretty average (lol))

3. When you don't want expectations to be too high 🎁

You can also use this phrase to "preemptively strike," managing others' expectations. For example, when giving a birthday gift to your partner, you're afraid your gift won't be surprising enough:

「あんまり期待しないでね！みんなの話聞いてたらハードル上がるから！（笑）」 (Don't expect too much! Hearing everyone's stories just raises the bar! (lol))

Why is this tip useful?

Instead of silently enduring the pressure,「ハードルが上がる」is a smart communication tool to relieve psychological stress. It turns anxiety into a light-hearted joke, connects you with those around you, and shows that you are humble and appreciative of others.

Next time you find yourself in this 'tricky' situation, give it a try. You'll sound much more natural and 'Japanese' in your communication! 😉