Collocations are words that usually go together in English.

Here we are going to look at words that go with 'lower' to make useful and popular expressions you will hear in social and professional contexts.

Lower expectations

If you 'lower expectations', you reduce hopes, assumptions, or beliefs about something.

Examples

• Analysts have lowered expectations for the company's earnings report, leading to a sudden drop in shares.
• I think we need to lower our expectations for this season. We have too many of our top players out injured to compete for the title.
• The manager had lower expectations for the project once he heard about the budget cuts.

Lower standards

To 'lower standards' means to drop the level of quality expected or produced by somebody or something.

Examples

• Since the new boss took over there has definitely been a lowering of standards in the office.
• You can't always expect everything to be done perfectly. You need to lower your standards.
• I wouldn't trust buying supplies from that country. They have much lower standards of production and processing than we do.

Lower gently

To 'lower gently' means to move somebody or something down slowly from a higher level or position.

Examples

• I didn't want to smash the eggs, so I lowered them gently into the shopping basket.
• In the evening, I watched the sun lower gently until it disappeared below the horizon.
• After my intense workout, I did a warm down so that I could lower my heart rate gently.

Lower onto

To 'lower onto' means to move somebody or something down until they are in contact with and supported by a surface.

Examples

• The new chimney was lowered onto the roof by a crane.
• The physio asked me to lower my stomach onto the mat so that she could look at my injured back.

Lower into

To 'lower into' means to move somebody or something down so that they are enclosed or surrounded by something else.

Examples

• Please lower the baby into the crib gently. I don't want her to wake up.
• The steel pipe was lowered into position by the construction workers.

Lower your eyes/gaze

When you 'lower your eyes/gaze', you look down rather than directly at somebody or something, often as a result of guilt or shyness.

Examples

• Jack quickly lowered his gaze when Diane caught him staring at her.
• When I got up to make my speech, I was so nervous that I couldn't look at the audience and had to lower my eyes.
• Sarah must feel guilty about what happened because instead of maintaining eye contact with me, she kept lowering her eyes.

These are some of the collocations you can make with 'lower'. Can you think of any others?