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G = Gail P = Patrick
G: I can’t believe the sales target has been changed again.
P: Neither can I. I was so close, and now it’s gone up to a million dollars. I’ll never get a bonus now.
G: It’s totally unfair. They keep moving the goalposts.
P: I’m two steps away from walking out.
G: Really?
P: Yeah! I’ve had it.
G: I haven’t. Can I have your desk?
goalpost 是足球、曲棍球等運動的「球門柱」,因為球門柱有兩根,所以必須用複數。move the goalposts 字面上的意思是「移動球門柱」,如此一來無疑會提高射門的難度。尤其是足球比賽,如果在比賽過程中改變球門的位置,將會對比賽結果產生不公正的影響。
在日常對話或商業場合中,這個俚語引申為「改變規則∕條件(以增加難度)」,通常帶有負面含義,用來抱怨對方在達成共識或設立目標之後改變了規則或期望。
• Don’t do business with them. They keep moving the goalposts.
別和他們做生意。他們老是變來變去給人出難題。
Those bus drivers are threatening to walk out next week.
那些公車司機揚言下星期要罷工。
I woke up with a bad headache this morning, so I called in sick.
我今早起床時頭很疼,所以打電話請了病假。