# move the yardsticks

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/move-the-yardsticks
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To make progress, as used in political and corporate venues to express proactive actions.

## Examples

- We need to move the yardsticks to finish this project on time.
- Small daily wins help us move the yardsticks toward our goal.
- The team met all morning to discuss how they could move the yardsticks before the quarterly review.
- The manager believes that hiring two more developers will finally move the yardsticks on the software update.
- If we want to move the yardsticks during this negotiation, we must be willing to compromise on the price.
- Although the committee faced significant bureaucratic resistance, they remained determined to move the yardsticks and implement the necessary policy reforms.

## Origin

The phrase originates from the sport of American football, in which officials use a pair of posts connected by a chain to track the progress of the ball. When the offensive team advances ten yards, the yardsticks are moved forward to mark a new point of measurement. The term reflects this mechanical shift of the goal during the course of play.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.