move the goalposts
A modern goal used in association football (soccer). The term move the goalposts derives from this game.
Meaning
Verb
- To alter the terms of an agreement or an agreed target, or the rules of a negotiation while it is ongoing, especially in an unfair way.
Origin
- A metaphor of British origin derived from association football (soccer),{{cite-journal|author=William Safire|authorlink=William Safire|title=On language; moving the goalposts|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/28/magazine/on-language-moving-the-goalposts.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909091626/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/28/magazine/on-language-moving-the-goalposts.html|archivedate=9 September 2017
- . from the idea that it is difficult for a player to kick the ball into the goal if it is moved.
Modern English dictionary
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