To move the goalposts

Meaning

To change the criteria or rules unexpectedly during a process.

Examples

• John: 'They keep <b>moving the goalposts</b>, making it difficult to meet their expectations.'<br>
• Alice: 'That's frustrating! We need clear and consistent guidelines to proceed effectively.'
• John: 'I agree, this lack of clarity hinders our progress.'
• Alice: 'It feels like they're constantly <b>moving the goalposts</b>, making it impossible to achieve our initial objectives.'<br>