[Ads-l] beyond the stratosphere

[Ben Zimmer]

I've noticed the figurative use of "stratosphere" (for the highest level of
some area of achievement) has lately become even more hyperbolic. It's not
enough for someone or something to simply be "in the stratosphere" -- now
it has to enter "another stratosphere" or "a whole new stratosphere" or "an
even bigger stratosphere." The usage is particularly popular in sports and
entertainment reporting.

* "another stratosphere"

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https://www.thestar.com/sports/basketball/caitlin-clark-has-taken-the-wnba-into-another-stratosphere-now-shes-bringing-her-game-there/article_4a101dc2-5fbb-11ef-b7f7-dfcb2a0142c9.html
Toronto Star, Aug. 22, 2024
Caitlin Clark has taken the WNBA into another stratosphere. Now she's
bringing her game there too. [...] Garnett added a rocket-ship emoji, as if
to prognosticate her impending takeoff to another stratosphere.
---
https://deadline.com/2024/12/nate-bargatze-washingtons-dream-snl-sketch-1236243356/
Deadline, Dec. 29, 2024
The sketch, which Bargatze -- now the top-grossing comic in the world --
has said launched his career into another stratosphere, almost didn't make
the cut, especially after it bombed during SNL‘s table read.
---
https://www.nhl.com/news/canadiens-capitals-anticipate-bell-centre-playoff-atmosphere
NHL.com, Apr. 24, 2025
[Brian Gionta:] "For me, there was no better place to play a playoff game.
It takes the regular season, which you think can't get any better, into
another stratosphere."
---

* "a(n even) bigger stratosphere"

---
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2020/12/02/with-groundbreaking-deals-with-mcdonalds-nike-and-fortnite-rapper-travis-scott-reportedly-grossed-100-million/
Orlando Sentinel, Dec. 2, 2020
Though Scott's first album, "Rodeo," released in 2015, was a
platinum-selling success, Brown noted how his connection to the Kardashian
clan brought him into a bigger stratosphere.
---
https://www.si.com/onsi/womens-fastbreak/news/espn-holly-rowe-sheds-light-on-what-caitlin-clark-hasn-t-01j9ve84tac5
Sports Illustrated, Oct. 10, 2024
She immediately became the face of the WNBA as soon as she entered the
league earlier this year, and her success as a rookie catapulted her into
an even bigger stratosphere of stardom.
---
https://deadline.com/2026/03/project-hail-mary-ready-or-not-2-box-office-projection-1236760889/
Deadline, Mar. 19, 2026
North America is looking to land $60M+ at 4,000 theaters, and there are
some who believe the Ryan Gosling movie could travel to an even bigger
stratosphere.
---

* "a (whole) new stratosphere"

---
https://thetigercu.com/28139/timeout/tv-movie-reviews/wicked-for-good-takes-broadway-to-a-whole-new-stratosphere/
The Tiger (Clemson), Dec. 4, 2025
‘Wicked: For Good' takes Broadway to a whole new stratosphere
---
https://deadline.com/2026/01/kristen-stewart-directing-twilight-remake-1236664958/
Deadline, Jan. 5, 2026
Stewart, whose child acting career entered a new stratosphere after the
release of the 2008 film based on the popular Stephenie Meyer novel series,
praised each filmmaker's respective movies.
---
https://dodgersway.com/dodgers-have-taken-deferring-money-to-a-new-stratosphere-after-concerning-report
Dodgers Way, Feb. 5, 2026
Dodgers have taken deferring money to a new stratosphere after concerning
report
---

There's also the comparative "not in the same stratosphere," often used in
sports:

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https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2023-06-19/dodgers-angels-freeway-series-mookie-betts-shohei-ohtani
archived: https://archive.is/vkCDU
Los Angeles Times, June 19, 2023
Just don't pretend Dodgers-Angels belongs with Yankees-Red Sox and
Dodgers-Giants in a conversation about baseball's great rivalries. "It's
not even in the same stratosphere," said Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts.
---
https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article/theyre-absolutely-underpaid-economists-weigh-in-on-wnba-labor-showdown-151146341.html
Yahoo Sports, July 23, 2025
In reality, WNBA salaries currently range from the league minimum of
$66,079 to a maximum of $249,244. That's not in the same stratosphere as
the NBA, where the league minimum is $1.27 million and the highest-paid
superstars will earn more than $50 million next season.
---
https://steelersdepot.com/2026/02/riddick-will-howard-isnt-in-same-stratosphere-as-alabama-qb-ty-simpson/
Steelers Depot, Feb. 25, 2026
"I like Will Howard," Riddick said recently on ESPN's NFL Live. "I don't
like Will Howard as much as Ty Simpson. I don't even think they're in the
same stratosphere as far as their ability to throw the football."
---

--bgz

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