move the goal posts
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Change the criteria for success.
Where it’s used:
Used
Business & corporate jargon
Sources & notes
Imported from Wikipedia “List of business terms” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29), pending review.
Common questions
What does “move the goal posts” mean?
Change the criteria for success.
Is “move the goal posts” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.