raise the bar 提高水平/门槛


If we raise the bar, we’d like to make a task a little more difficult (as with raising the bar in high jumping or pole vaulting). raise the bar表示提高某件事的水平或者门槛，就如同体育比赛跳高或者撑杆跳中提高杆的高度一样，往往表示加大了难度，使事情更复杂。

Examples:
Just as I was getting accustomed to my job, the manager raised the bar and I had to perform even better. 正当我开始适应于我的工作，经理提高了工作难度以致于我不得不表现的更好。
China is trying to raise the bar for its military power. 中国正在提高其军事力量。
If we raise the bar, more students will fail in the exams. 如果我们增加了难度，更多学生将不会通过考试。