move the needle en · VERB
Pronunciation
- mo͞ov′ thə nē′-dəl
- (Australia) audio
- /ˌmuːv ðə ˈniː.dəl/
Etymology
From the indicator needle of a measuring instrument such as a speedometer, dial indicator, etc; used both literally and figuratively.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic, intransitive) To change a situation to a noticeable degree; to make an appreciable difference.
Speaking in January, OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, appeared dismissive of NYT’s relevance to its products. “Any one particular training source, it doesn’t move the needle for us that much,” he said.
2024 May 4, Alex Hern, Dan Milmo, quoting Sam Altman, “Danger and opportunity for news industry as AI woos it for vital human-written copy”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:A North Star Metric (NSM) allows everyone, irrespective of team status, to ask, “How is what I'm doing today helping move the needle on our NSM?”
2020, Anuj Adhiya, Growth Hacking For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:How does a participant in a sector, or an entire sector for that matter, move the needle on climate change?
2012 August 9, Eric Lowitt, “To solve climate change, let's move beyond climate change”, in The Guardian:Think Red Hots are a taste challenge? Or the Atomic Fireball is the ultimate tongue torture? They barely move the needle for confectionery connoisseurs.
2002 July 28, Janice M. Horowitz, “Hot Stuff”, in Time:“[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.”
2016 May 19, James B. Stewart, quoting Bill Smead, “Warren Buffett Stake Suggests Apple Is All Grown Up”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| moved the needle | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| moved the needle | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| moves the needle | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| moving the needle | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |