move the needle

verb
/ˌmuːv ðə ˈniː.dəl/

Etymology

From the indicator needle of a measuring instrument such as a speedometer.

Definitions

  1. To change a situation to a noticeable degree

    To change a situation to a noticeable degree; to make an appreciable difference.

    • Think Red Hots are a taste challenge? Or the Atomic Fireball is the ultimate tongue torture? They barely move the needle for confectionery connoisseurs.
    • How does a participant in a sector, or an entire sector for that matter, move the needle on climate change?
    • “[G]iven Apple’s huge success and its sheer magnitude, it needs a monstrous new product or enhancement of an existing product to move the needle on growth.”

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for move the needle. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA