goalpost
Field's yellow frame
A goalpost is one of the vertical posts (usually a pair) that form the goal in sports like football, soccer, and hockey.
The crossbar connects them; a ball must pass between or above them to score.
Figuratively, to move the goalposts is to change the rules or criteria after someone has already begun trying to meet them—a common accusation in arguments and negotiations.
Vertical load-bearing posts
- crossbarHorizontal bar between uprights
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- conversionAct of changing states
- soccerField sport with goals
football · rugby · endzone · net · pitch · stadium · kickoff · score
Purpose or direction
- objectivePurpose or goal
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- milestoneNotable event marking progress
- thresholdPoint of beginning
baseline · marker · endpoint · destination · target · bullseye · mark · standard
Sleeping mind's narrative
- ambitionDesire for achievement
- visionAbility to see
- pursuitAct of chasing something
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
drive · purpose · hope · desire · quest · endeavor · yearning · striving
Underhanded control of others
- redefinitionAltering established meaning
- backpedalingReversing one's position
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
evasion · dodging · equivocation · deception · bait-and-switch · double-standard · arbitrariness · unpredictability
uprights
Vertical load-bearing posts
- crossbarHorizontal bar between uprights
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- conversionAct of changing states
soccer · football · rugby · endzone · net · pitch · stadium · kickoff · score · match
aim
Purpose or direction
threshold · baseline · marker · endpoint · destination · target · bullseye · mark · standard · criterion
dream
Sleeping mind's narrative
motivation · drive · purpose · hope · desire · quest · endeavor · yearning · striving · destination
manipulation
Underhanded control of others
- redefinitionAltering established meaning
- backpedalingReversing one's position
- inconsistencyLack of steady pattern
unfairness · evasion · dodging · equivocation · deception · bait-and-switch · double-standard · arbitrariness · unpredictability · retroactive
- posts and polesflagpole, telephone pole, utility pole, electric pole, power pole
- Soccersoccer, pass, football, offside, striker
- Football Fieldend zone, endzone, gridiron, hash marks, midfield
- soccer pitchtouchline, penalty area, penalty box, center circle, six-yard box
- sports equipmentbasketball, baseball bat, volleyball, hockey stick, shoulder pads
- sports gearbasketball, baseball, football, soccer ball, volleyball
goalposthalfway line
Field's middle boundary
midfield · center circle · starting line · center field · center court
goalpostcrossbar
Horizontal bar between uprights
net · goal line · backboard · goal mouth
- move the goalpostsChange rules unfairly midway
- moving the goalpostsChanging rules mid-argument
- shift the goalpostsChange criteria unfairly
- moved the goalpostsChanged criteria unfairly midway
- moving goalpostsAltering criteria during evaluation
- goalpost movingChanging criteria after fact