a sequence of events wherein each event sets a new, higher standard that will act as a precedent for all subsequent events.
-As far as I know, this phrase has never been coined or defined before.

Bob tells funny stories and does spontaneous imitations at work. each one is a little funnier than the one before. his co-worker's expectations track with his performance so that now he has to maintain the gradient of improvement every time he opens his mouth or, - and this is the key- they will respond as if it was less funny than it really is. He has trapped himself in a system of ascending precedents.

system of ascending precedents by Kenneth A. Vaughan February 18, 2009

Related Words

absconding • asconding • Ascending • Abscondiscated • absconditioner • Absounding • AscendingSwords • ascending to heaven • Ashonding • IM ASCENDING

Ascending

That moment when you eat 3 vitamin gummies and listen to Guns from Friday Night Funkin.

Person #1: "Bro I'm ascending ahaha"

Person #2: "Are you high again?"

Ascending by fartfacelolimnotcreative May 12, 2021

Abscondiscated

When someone removed something from your possession that may or may not have belonged to you in the first place.

He just abscondiscated with the beer I found in this cooler.

Abscondiscated by BMWMotogirl March 21, 2016

The Lark Ascending

One of the finest pieces of music in the classical violin repertoire. You've gotta admit it.

The Lark Ascending is bloody amazing!

The Lark Ascending by Viola Tragic May 8, 2006

absconditioner

Noun: a big glob of conditioner that has secretly slid off the back of your skull to deposit itself somewhere else on your body.

I thought I was done with my hair, until i got out of the shower and found a big glob of absconditioner hiding out just above my ass.

absconditioner by theoceanfrog June 17, 2010

ascending to heaven

to experience pleasure so good that you feel like you are ascending to heaven

man: uuuuhhhh awwwwwwww
woman: are you ascending to heaven.

ascending to heaven by blade jogger November 14, 2017

God Shot

A chance happening with profound meaning, an unexpected blessing, a "sign".

Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab said "All of a sudden what had been just another Hollywood proposal became for him an unexpected blessing, an opportunity for growth. In drug recovery language, that's called a "God shot."

God Shot by Imogen1564 February 25, 2011

Word of the Day on September 18, 2026

city chicken

A food native to Pittsburgh/Western Pennsylvania in which cubes of pork and/or veal are put on a short, wooden skewer, breaded, then baked and/or fried.

I've heard that city chicken originated during the Great Depression, when folks didn't have enough money to buy full cuts of meat, so they assembled meat scraps on a wooden skewer, creating a make-shift drumstick. Hence the name.

Are yinz havin' city chicken for dinner?

city chicken by TRF August 31, 2006

Word of the Day on September 17, 2026

Is that cake?

Another way to say is this fake? Like the show real or cake

“Slayyyter just announced another album last night”
“No way, is that cake?”
“Yeah whoops this isn’t real”

Is that cake? by Sexyyred September 15, 2026

Word of the Day on September 16, 2026

just fokin missing her

native american reservation origin... to miss an ex so badly that everyone can see it.. can be used for either sex eg. just fokin missing her/him

friend : *noticably sad*
me : look at you all sad & shit
friend : shut up!
me : just fokin missing her huh?

just fokin missing her by d i z k o 2 0 8 September 14, 2026

Word of the Day on September 15, 2026

endwarfins

The rush of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides triggered specifically by watching the Seven Dwarfs march home singing "Heigh-Ho" — that particular high of pickaxes, whistling while you work, and communal domestic bliss in a cottage built for men half your height.

I only meant to watch the Heigh-Ho scene for the endwarfins, and then it was two hours later and I'd watched the whole movie.

Endwarfins aren't just a Snow White thing — I get the same hit off the Lollipop Guild in Oz.

endwarfins by Howard Ogden September 13, 2026

Word of the Day on September 14, 2026

caillou

A slang term used to describe a bald person, typically someone who is completely bald or has a closely shaved head. The term is derived from the infamous, hairless kids’ cartoon character of the same name.

Example 1:
“Did you see that caillou over there? His head is reflecting the sun like a disco ball.”
Example 2:
“I think Dave is finally accepting his hair loss. He just went full caillou and shaved the whole thing off.”

caillou by WMH01 September 12, 2026

Word of the Day on September 13, 2026