Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Move the goalposts
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "move the goalposts" is unfairly alter the conditions or rules of a procedure during its course.
The idiom "move the goalposts" is used to describe someone who changes the rules or requirements of a situation in order to make it more difficult for someone else to succeed. For example, you might say "My boss keeps moving the goalposts on me. I can never seem to meet his expectations."
The other options are not as appropriate meanings for the idiom "move the goalposts":
- To do your research and understand clearly what your goals are: This is not a common meaning for the idiom "move the goalposts."
- To put a lot of effort into something: This is not a common meaning for the idiom "move the goalposts."
- To move the goalpost after an attempt has been made to score a goal: This is a literal meaning of the idiom "move the goalposts," but it is not the most common meaning.