move the goalposts

M

move the goalposts (metaphor)
/muːv ðə ˈɡoʊlˌpoʊsts/

The idiomatic phrase “move the goalposts” is a vivid metaphor used to describe the unfair act of changing the rules or conditions of a task or competition in the middle of it. The origin of this term is deeply rooted in team sports, where the very act of moving a goal is an obvious form of cheating.

Variants

• shifting the goalposts
• moving the posts
• move the goal post
• moving the goal post
• shift the goalposts

Meanings

• To unfairly change the rules, criteria, or conditions of a task or competition in the middle of it.
• To alter the standards or requirements for success during a process, making it more difficult to achieve the desired outcome.
• To change the terms of a deal or agreement after both parties have already agreed upon the initial conditions.

Synonyms: change the rules, shift the parameters, alter the criteria, change the terms, adjust the standards, make it harder, raise the bar, set a new standard, change the conditions, change the objective.

Example Sentences

1. After I submitted the project, my boss decided to move the goalposts by adding three new requirements that were not in the original brief.
2. The company was close to reaching its sales target, but the CEO decided to move the goalposts by increasing the target by 20% in the final quarter.
3. We had a verbal agreement on the price, but now the seller is moving the goalposts by demanding an extra fee for shipping.
4. The professor kept shifting the goalposts for the final paper, making it impossible for students to know what was expected.
5. They were in the middle of negotiations when the other side suddenly started moving the posts, demanding a larger share of the profits.

Origin and History

The Sporting Origin

The most widely accepted theory for the origin of the phrase comes directly from games like football and rugby. In its most literal sense, the idiom is based on the action of physically relocating the posts that define a goal. While this would be an unthinkable act of cheating in a professional, organized match, the phrase likely originated from informal games. In a casual game played on a field or street, where jackets, stones, or sticks were used as temporary goalposts, it was easy for players to shift them to make scoring more difficult for the opposing team. This simple, tangible act of changing the target became a powerful and enduring metaphor for any unfair change to a set of rules.

A Possible Country of Origin

Based on usage patterns and early records, the phrase most likely originated in the United Kingdom. The country’s strong sporting culture, where goal-based games are common and metaphors from sports frequently enter everyday language, makes it a plausible birthplace for the term. The earliest widespread use of the phrase appears to have come from British speech and writing, particularly in political and public contexts.

The Earliest Printed Record

While the phrase likely existed in oral form for some time, the earliest printed records of the term date back to the mid-20th century. One of the earliest known appearances in print is from a publication in the United States in the 1950s, where it was used in a discussion about sports. This early record confirms the idiom’s initial connection to a sporting context before it broadened to other areas.

Evolution of Meaning and Usage

Initially a simple sporting metaphor, the phrase quickly evolved to describe many other situations.

Political and Bureaucratic Use

Politicians, officials, and managers often change rules or targets partway through a process. Critics adopted the image of goalposts being shifted to accuse them of unfairness or acting in bad faith. The phrase provides a strong visual of a target that keeps retreating, making it seem impossible for people to succeed.

Journalism and Public Debate

Journalists and commentators found the phrase to be a short, impactful way to describe situations where standards or promises were altered after people had already acted on the initial terms. Its use in newspapers and other media helped it spread rapidly into everyday conversation beyond sports.

Debating and Rhetorical Use

The phrase is also used to describe a specific tactic in debates and arguments. If someone responds to a counterargument by redefining what counts as a win or success, they are said to be “moving the goalposts.” This rhetorical use became common among academics, lawyers, and public debaters to criticize opponents for avoiding a concession by changing the terms of the discussion.

Modern Workplace Meaning

In corporate settings and project management, the idiom is used to describe when managers shift deliverables, deadlines, or success metrics. The metaphor is a perfect fit because workplace goals are often clearly defined, and changing them after the fact can feel like a direct act of moving the target.

Alternative and Imagined Origins

One imaginative theory ties the phrase to a circus strongman. Imagine a strongman who is about to lift a set of weights, but just before he can perform the feat, the ringmaster adds more weight, making the task impossible. This shows how the core idea of an unfair, last-minute change to a challenge can apply to many contexts. Other speculative ideas suggest the phrase could have come from other target-based activities like archery or hunting, where moving a target would also be a form of obvious cheating. It is also possible that the phrase was reinforced by multiple, independent origins—from playgrounds, to political speeches, to workplace grievances—all using the same clear image at roughly the same time.

Sports