Meaning & use
above the curve
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
performing better than the usual or expected level; ahead of the average.
Grammar: Usually comes after the verb 'be' or 'stay', or after 'keep'.
Patterns
- be above the curve
- stay above the curve
- keep someone above the curve
Their sales figures are consistently above the curve.
She works hard to stay above the curve in her class.
The new software keeps us above the curve compared to our competitors.
Common combinations
- stay above the curve
- To stay above the curve, the company invests heavily in research.
- be above the curve
- Their test scores are above the curve for the district.
- keep above the curve
- Regular training keeps the team above the curve.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ahead of the curve
- Means being early or advanced, not just better than average; 'above the curve' focuses on being better than the norm.
- above average
- More direct and common in everyday English; 'above the curve' is more idiomatic and often used in business contexts.
Opposites
Commonly confused: above the curve or ahead of the curve?
above the curve vs ahead of the curve
Means being more advanced or earlier than others, while 'above the curve' means performing better than the average.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'above the curve' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Above the curve' is an idiom meaning better than average. The other options use 'above' in a literal, physical sense, which does not fit the idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “above the curve”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.