measurement

• Move the needle

  To make a noticeable or significant difference in a situation, outcome, or progress.

• on the needle

  Indicating something is perfectly precise, accurate, or exactly on target, often in terms of a dial, gauge, or measurement.

• Off the dial

  Reaching an extreme or excessive level that goes beyond the normal or expected range, often implying overwhelming intensity.

• In range

  Within the effective or observable distance or scope where something can be reached, affected, or detected.

• Straight as a die

  Completely and absolutely straight, without any curves or deviations.

• By a hair's breadth

  To achieve or avoid something by a hair's breadth means to succeed or fail by an extremely small margin or distance.

• guesstimate

  To make an estimate without precise data, relying on a mixture of guesswork and approximate calculation.

• A hair's breadth

  An extremely small distance or amount, so slight as to be almost imperceptible.

• A drop in the bucket

  A very small, insignificant amount when compared to a much larger or more significant whole.

• A high benchmark

  A difficult or demanding standard of quality, performance, or achievement that others are expected to meet or surpass.

• Hanging in the balance

  To be in a highly uncertain state where the final outcome is not yet decided and could go either way.