Move the Needle

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🗓️ Idiom: Move the Needle (v)

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💬 Meaning

• To make a noticeable difference or improvement.
• It means taking action that creates real progress or results.

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🧠 Example Sentences

• The new product design really moved the needle in terms of sales.
• We need a strategy that will move the needle, not just small changes.
• Their innovation in customer service moved the needle on satisfaction ratings.

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🏛️ Origin

This idiom comes from measuring instruments like gauges or meters, where the “needle” moves when something changes. In business, it means taking actions that have a visible or meaningful effect.

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📝 Practice Exercises

1. Fill in the blank:

That marketing campaign didn’t __________. We saw no change in engagement.

Answer

move the needle

2. Choose the correct meaning of “move the needle”:

A) To keep everything the same
B) To cause a clear improvement
C) To change something slowly
D) To try something risky

Answer

B) To cause a clear improvement

3. Rewrite the sentence using the idiom:

“The new software created real progress in our operations.” → Change the sentence using: move the needle

Answer

The new software really moved the needle in our operations.

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ℹ️ Other Useful Pages

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