move the yardsticks
English
editEtymology
editThe phrase originates from American football, where every ten yards of forward progress by the offense moves the yardsticks ahead to measure the next ten yards of progress.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Verb
editmove the yardsticks (third-person singular simple present moves the yardsticks, present participle moving the yardsticks, simple past and past participle moved the yardsticks)
- (American football) To move the chains.
- (idiomatic) To make progress, as used in political and corporate venues to express proactive actions.