move the goalposts

意味

to change the rules unfairly once work has started

始まった後でルールを不当に変える.

例文

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?

文法

形が変わるのは動詞だけで、move の代わりに shift を使っても意味は同じ。goalposts は複数のまま、the を付ける。

似た意味の表現