set the pace

Idioms  

1. Establish a standard for others to follow, as in Jim has set the pace for the department, exceeding the monthly quota every time. This expression comes from racing, where it is said of a horse that passes the others and leads the field. It was transferred to other activities in the early 1900s.

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Example Sentences

The rate matters because it helps set the pace of economic growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

“Ultimately, we set the pace and the tempo.”

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

The women's singles figure skating contest is finely poised after Japanese teenager Ami Nakai set the pace in the short programme ahead of her more established compatriot Kaori Sakamoto on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

From sports retail to healthcare equipment, global companies are grappling with the same question: how to compete in a market where domestic players set the pace, consumers demand constant adjustment and loyalty is increasingly transactional.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 23, 2025

Robert set the pace, driving his huge black destrier hard as Ned galloped along beside him, trying to keep up.

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin