Deflate or humble someone, as in He's so arrogant that I wish someone would take him down a notch, or That defeat took them down a peg. Both notch and peg in this idiom allude to a series, the former of indentations, the latter of knobs, used to raise or lower something.

What does take it up a notch mean?

To an increased or extreme degree of intensity or quality. OK, guys, we've worked up a pretty good sweat with our workout so far. Let's step it up a notch!

How do you use take it up a notch in a sentence?

Example Sentences

The team got through to the quarter-finals. Now they need to take it up a notch to get to the semis. Lauren has always loved a party, but she has taken it up a notch or two since Martin left her. She's almost never in.