move the goalposts

المعنى

to change the rules unfairly once work has started

تغيير القواعد ظلما بعد بدء العمل.

أمثلة

1. 1The client moved the goalposts twice, and the deadline stayed the same.
2. 2Examiners should not move the goalposts once revision has started.
3. 3Every time we agree a budget, head office moves the goalposts again.
4. 4Leo felt cheated when the landlord moved the goalposts days before the contract was signed.
5. 5Are they moving the goalposts, or did we misread the original terms?

القواعد

يتغير الفعل وحده، ويمكن استبدال move بـ shift دون تغير المعنى. تبقى goalposts جمعا مع the.

تعابير قريبة في المعنى