move the goalposts

To alter the rules or parameters of a situation in such a way as to suit one's needs or objectives, making it more difficult for someone else to succeed, keep pace, or achieve an opposing objective. I hate arguing with that type of person. As soon as you start wearing down their logic, they just move the goalposts on the whole thing! We're never going to get the book design finished in time if the publisher keeps moving the goalposts every couple of months like this! Claiming victory after cutting the tax by a small fraction when in fact you had said you'd abolish it altogether is really moving the goalposts, isn't it?

See also: move

move the goalposts

If someone moves the goalposts, they change the rules or aims in a situation or activity, in order to gain an advantage and to make things more difficult for the other people involved. He was always moving the goalposts so that we could never anticipate what he wanted. They seem to move the goalposts every time I meet the required conditions. Note: You can also say that someone shifts the goalposts. The administration is shifting the goalposts and changing its demands.

See also: move

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

move (or shift) the goalposts

unfairly alter the conditions or rules of a procedure during its course.

1989 Dimensions Many companies have, in recent years, moved the goalposts so that those who used to qualify no longer do so.

See also: move

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

move the ˈgoalposts

(informal, disapproving, especially British English) change the rules for something, or the conditions under which it is done, so that the situation becomes more difficult for somebody: Our union is angry at the management for moving the goalposts during the pay talks. Every time agreement is reached they put up another obstacle.

See also: move

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

move the goalposts

Change the rules in the middle of an enterprise, usually to make it more difficult for someone to succeed. The term originated in sports that use goalposts (soccer, rugby, football) in the second half of the 1900s. It soon was transferred to other enterprises. Jo Bannister had it in Liars All (2009): “. . . if they parted one day, she’d find someone to replace him . . . He didn’t blame her for that. It wasn’t Brodie who’d moved the goalposts.”

See also: move

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References in periodicals archive

Mr Hunt acted to move the goalposts after being defeated last year in the High Court.

New law will help Hunt to axe hospitals

After one declined, some others wanted to, um, move the goalposts."

BBC forced to drop FIFA president debate; FOOTBALL

How long will it be before they move the goalposts? My advice is that everyone boycott it and do the Health Lottery.

A profit machine for the [...]

He told Popsugar Australia: "We're always joking that we move the goalposts of what we're aiming for all the time."

Singer's sore Ed for filming of gig movie

Everybody will have a different perspective and will move the goalposts to judge whether it's moving forward or not.

Kenny slams critics of his Kop crusade

CAMPAIGNERS have raised concerns that a review of fuel poverty will move the goalposts on tackling the issue, as the Government announced who will lead the inquiry.

Fuel poverty review raises concerns; GREEN ISSUES

In reality, what Ofsted has done yet again is to move the goalposts.

Teachers give low marks to Ofsted report

Van der Logt laughed that hewas tempted to move the goalposts.

Couple don't need to live in Cyn now

"Did she already move the goalposts and just looking for rationalization

Moving the goalposts

Far from being to blame for this farce, it looks like the council's only fault has been to try to find away forward from Cardiff City's attempt to - yet again - move the goalposts on this increasingly farcical project.

Blame the club not the council

Eleven VCs from the conflict are on show in Brecon Military Museum, home of the Welsh Border Regiment that was formed two years after the Zulu Wars had ceased and the MoD decided to move the goalposts by merging various regiments.

Letter: True story of Zulu war

Furious MPs have attacked Government attempts to move the goalposts on the miners' compensation scheme in a way which threatens to leave tens of thousands of widows in Wales without any payout.

Miners' widows payout move criticised

Employers of firefighters again move the goalposts. The stand-down is required by law as shifts exceed the maximum allowed.

Treat firefighters with fairness

If employees have a target and they are working hard to achieve, it cannot only be contractually dangerous to move the goalposts in mid-stream, it can also be seriously demotivating.

Legal and Finance: Sales bonus and commission can be a minefield