shift the goalposts

shift the goalposts
shift the goalposts
To alter the rules of a game, conditions of an agreement, etc unfairly after proceedings have begun, or the agreement has been entered into
goal

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move/shift/the goalposts phrase
to change the rules and make it difficult for people to achieve something or to know what to do

Problems arise when people are shifting the goalposts and objectives are not clear.

Thesaurus: to cause problems for someone or somethingsynonym
Main entry: goalpost

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shift the goalposts — see goalpost
• • •
Main Entry:shift

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • move/shift the goalposts — Brit : to change the rules or requirements in a way that makes success more difficult • • • Main Entry: ↑goalpost …   Useful english dictionary

  • move the goalposts — move/shift/the goalposts phrase to change the rules and make it difficult for people to achieve something or to know what to do Problems arise when people are shifting the goalposts and objectives are not clear. Thesaurus: to cause problems for… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Finding the Fox — Infobox Book | name = Finding the Fox author = Ali Sparkes illustrator = David Wyatt country = England language = English series = The Shapeshifter genre = Fantasy/Science Fiction publisher = Oxford University Press pub date = 2006 pages = 328… …   Wikipedia

  • goalpost — UK [ˈɡəʊlˌpəʊst] / US [ˈɡoʊlˌpoʊst] noun [countable] Word forms goalpost : singular goalpost plural goalposts one of the two posts that the ball must go between to score a goal in games such as football • move/shift the goalposts to change the… …   English dictionary

  • metaphor and simile — 1. The difference between these two figures of speech, which together constitute a major element of English idiom, is largely one of form. A simile is a fanciful comparison couched in a form introduced by as or like, for example Byron s line The… …   Modern English usage

  • goalpost — goal|post [ˈgəulpəust US ˈgoulpoust] n [C usually plural] 1.) one of the two posts, with a bar along the top or across the middle, that form the ↑goal in games such as football and ↑hockey = ↑post 2.) move/shift the goalposts BrE informal to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • goalpost — /ˈgoʊlpoʊst/ (say gohlpohst) noun 1. (in football, etc.) either of the two posts marking the goal. –phrase 2. move (or shift) the goalposts, to change the ground rules of a trading or other arrangement improperly and usually without notification …  

  • goal·post — /ˈgoʊlˌpoʊst/ noun, pl posts [count] : one of two upright posts that form part of the goal in various games (such as soccer, hockey, and football) move/shift the goalposts Brit : to change the rules or requirements in a way that makes success… …   Useful english dictionary

  • American football rules — The Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans in formation before a play Game play in American football consists of a series of downs, individual plays of short duration, outside of which the ball is dead or not in play. These can be plays from… …   Wikipedia

  • football, gridiron — Game played, predominantly in the U.S. and Canada, on a rectangular field having two goalposts at each end. In the U.S. it is played between two teams of 11 players each. The object is to get an oblong ball, in possession of one side at a time,… …   Universalium

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