🗓️ Idiom: Move the Needle (v)
💬 Meaning
- To make a noticeable difference or improvement.
- It means taking action that creates real progress or results.
🧠 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.
🏛️ 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.
📝 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.