bun1 lung4 mun4搬龍門搬龙门

Jyutpingbun1 lung4 mun4

Yalebūn lùhng mùhn

動詞

Definition

To move the goalposts; to suddenly change the rules, measures, or standards to gain an advantage.

colloquialother

How it's used

This expression is a direct metaphor from football, referring to the act of physically shifting the goalposts to make scoring easier for one side. It is frequently used in political commentary, workplace disputes, and interpersonal arguments to call out someone who is being intellectually dishonest or unfair. Unlike formal terms for changing rules, this carries a strong sense of accusation and frustration.

Examples

keoi5佢ci3次ci3次dou1都bun1搬lung4龍mun4門，dim2點joeng2樣tung4同keoi5佢king1傾lok6落heoi3去aa4呀？

He keeps moving the goalposts, how can I continue talking to him?

nei5你m4唔hou2好zoi3再bun1搬lung4龍mun4門laa3喇，gong2講hou2好zo2咗zau6就hai6係gam3咁㗎gaa3啦。

Don't move the goalposts again, we already agreed it would be like this.

Common phrases

lung4龍mun4門jam6任nei5你bun1搬

you can move the goalposts however you like

Common mistake

Learners sometimes mistake this for a literal action. It is strictly used figuratively to describe unfair behavior and should not be used when someone is simply updating a policy for a valid, transparent reason.