Adjust the goalposts ↔️🥅

Meaning

To change the rules or criteria for success in a way that makes it easier to achieve them, often unfairly.

Origin

This phrase vividly conjures an image from sports, specifically an American football field. Imagine the game is almost over, and your team is losing. Suddenly, the referee moves the goalposts closer to the opponent's end zone! It's a blatant, ridiculous cheat, making it much easier to score. While no specific game or event is credited with coining this term, the visual is so strong and unfair that the phrase quickly entered the lexicon to describe any situation where rules are manipulated to favor one side, usually the one doing the manipulating.

👑⚖️ power 🎭🤥 deception 🗣️ communication 🏆 success

Adjust the goalposts represented with emoji↔️🥅

Note how the bidirectional arrow and goal net playfully challenge our perception by subverting the notion of a fixed objective. This delightful juxtaposition serves as a whimsical reminder that sometimes, the game isn't about reaching the goal, but about how we choose to move the markers along the path.

Examples

  • The company kept changing the performance metrics, essentially adjusting the goalposts so no one could fail.
  • When they realized the project was behind schedule, the managers decided to adjust the goalposts rather than find more resources.
  • The toddler, realizing his tower wasn't tall enough, decided to adjust the goalposts by declaring that any tower was a winner.
  • He tried to explain that the fairy queen's decree was a bit arbitrary, but she just sniffed and decided to adjust the goalposts for pollen collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'adjust the goalposts' always negative?

While often used critically to imply unfairness or manipulation, 'adjust the goalposts' can sometimes be used neutrally to describe necessary changes to criteria. The context typically reveals whether the adjustment is seen as a legitimate adaptation or a manipulative tactic.

What's the opposite of 'adjust the goalposts'?

The opposite of 'adjust the goalposts,' meaning to make success easier by changing criteria, would be something like 'raise the bar' or 'make the requirements stricter.' These phrases imply increasing the difficulty or standards for success.

Can you 'adjust the goalposts' in a positive way?

Sometimes, adjusting the goalposts can be seen as a supportive action, particularly in educational or training contexts. For example, modifying initial expectations to build confidence before gradually increasing difficulty could be perceived as a positive adjustment, though the phrasing itself often carries negative connotations.

Who first coined the phrase 'adjust the goalposts'?

There isn't a single documented origin or person credited with coining the phrase 'adjust the goalposts.' Its widespread adoption likely stems from its vivid and easily understood metaphorical connection to sports, illustrating a blatant and unfair change to the rules.

Similar to "adjust the goalposts"

Move the finish line
Both phrase phrases involve altering the terms of achievement, but 'move the finish line' implies a more blatant, last-minute alteration of the ultimate target, whereas 'adjust the goalposts' suggests a more foundational, rule-bending shift
Change the goalposts
This is a very close cousin, but 'change the goalposts' feels a bit more active and intentional in its modification of the rules, while 'adjust the goalposts' can sometimes imply a more subtle, almost passive recalibration that still skews the game
Red-silk screening
Both phrases describe manipulating criteria to ensure a desired outcome, but 'red-silk screening' specifically implies a sophisticated and often hidden process of pre-selection or manipulation, particularly in politics or business, to control who succeeds, adding a layer of covertness that 'adjust the goalposts' doesn't always carry

Opposite of "adjust the goalposts"

Raise the bar
This phrase argues instead for increasing the challenge and setting higher standards, which is compelling because it champions genuine merit and striving rather than manufactured ease
Stick to your guns
This argues for unwavering commitment to original principles or standards, offering a stark contrast that values integrity and steadfastness in the face of pressure to compromise or concede unfair advantages
Earn your stripes
This emphasizes proving oneself through genuine effort and accomplishment, making a powerful case for earned success as the only true measure, rather than manipulated progress

Related to "adjust the goalposts"

Rig the game
This phrase shares the core idea of unfair advantage, but 'rig the game' is more overtly about outright cheating and manipulation from the start, whereas 'adjust the goalposts' can sometimes imply a subtler, mid-play alteration of the rules
Stack the deck
Both phrases pertain to ensuring a predetermined outcome through unfair means, but 'stack the deck' specifically relates to arrangements where one side has a built-in advantage, much like dealing cards in a way that benefits a particular player
A moving target
This idiom captures the feeling of chasing something that is constantly changing its position or requirements, mirroring the frustrating experience of trying to succeed when the criteria are being altered
Chasing windmills
This phrase evokes the futility of pursuing an unattainable or illusory goal, a sentiment often felt by those who are subjected to 'adjusted goalposts' and find their efforts rendered meaningless