moved the goalposts

Verb

move the goalposts (third-person singular simple present moves the goalposts, present participle moving the goalposts, simple past and past participle moved the goalposts)

1. (idiomatic) To alter the terms of an agreement or an agreed target, or the rules of a negotiation while it is ongoing, especially in an unfair way.
   • This is a Government that meets its economic targets and does not move the goalposts.

   Synonyms:

   change the goal posts, shift the goalposts