English idiom

move the goalposts

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to unfairly change the rules or aims after something has started

Why this phrase?

From sport; moving the goal makes scoring unfair, so it means changing requirements.

Example

“Just as we finished, the client moved the goalposts again.”

Dictionary details

Tags

change

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

every which way

in every direction, often in a scattered or disorderly way

go downhill

to become progressively worse in condition, quality, or performance

go with the flow

To adjust calmly to circumstances or prevailing behavior instead of resisting them.

a whole new ball game

A completely different situation from before.

blaze a trail

to pioneer an approach that opens the way for later people

break the mould

to do something new and different that sets a new standard

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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