goalpost

/ˈɡoʊlˌpoʊst/
noun
  1. One of the two vertical posts that form the sides of a goal in sports such as soccer, football, or hockey.
    • The ball hit the goalpost and bounced back into play.
    • He aimed for the top corner, just inside the goalpost.
    • The goalpost was painted bright white so players could see it clearly.
  2. A figurative target or standard used to measure progress or success.
    • Don't change the goalpost halfway through the competition.
    • The company keeps moving the goalpost, so it's hard to know when we've succeeded.
    • In this project, the goalpost keeps shifting as new requirements come in.
Synonyms
What does "goalpost" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean