moves the goalposts

A form of move the goalposts — 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.

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Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of move the goalposts
Cite this entry
APA

moves the goalposts. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20goalposts

MLA

“moves the goalposts.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20goalposts. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “moves the goalposts,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/moves%20the%20goalposts.

Source: moves the goalposts on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.