shifting sands


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the shifting sands of (something)

The constantly changing circumstances or aspects of something that makes it particularly difficult to understand or contend with. Older adults often find themselves struggling to keep up with the ever-shifting sands of technology. Part of the problem is that we've convinced ourselves that personal happiness depends on the shifting sands of romantic love, which does real damage to our ability to live fulfilled and contented lives as independent people.
See also: of, sand, shift
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

shifting sands

You can talk about the shifting sands of a situation when it keeps changing, and this makes it difficult to deal with. It's a struggle to keep up with the shifting sands of fashion. The problem is that the whole economy has been built on the shifting sands of finance, not the rock of industry.
See also: sand, shift
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

(the) ˌshifting ˈsands (of something)

used to describe a situation that changes so often that it is difficult to understand or deal with it: the shifting sands of the digital age
See also: sand, shift
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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