Apprendre B210 min Membre
Sports Idioms in Business — “Moving the Goalposts”
Why business English is full of sports
English-speaking business culture borrows constantly from sports — cricket, football, baseball, boxing. If you don't know the idioms, you'll miss half of what's said in strategy meetings. You don't need to know the sports — just the phrases.
From football
"Move the goalposts" — Changer les règles en cours de route
"The client keeps moving the goalposts — first they wanted X, now they want Y." = Changing the criteria unfairly.
"The client keeps moving the goalposts — first they wanted X, now they want Y." = Changing the criteria unfairly.
"A level playing field" — Des conditions égales pour tous
"We need a level playing field for all bidders." = Fair, equal conditions for competition.
"We need a level playing field for all bidders." = Fair, equal conditions for competition.
"Score an own goal" — Marquer contre son camp
"That press release was an own goal." = Something you did that hurt your own position.
"That press release was an own goal." = Something you did that hurt your own position.
From boxing
"Throw in the towel" — Jeter l'éponge
"We're not ready to throw in the towel yet." = Give up. French has the same image with "éponge."
"We're not ready to throw in the towel yet." = Give up. French has the same image with "éponge."
"On the ropes" — Acculé / En difficulté
"The competitor is on the ropes after losing their biggest client." = In serious trouble, close to failing.
"The competitor is on the ropes after losing their biggest client." = In serious trouble, close to failing.
From baseball (American English)
"A ballpark figure" — Un ordre de grandeur / Une estimation approximative
"Can you give me a ballpark figure for the budget?" = An approximate number, not exact.
"Can you give me a ballpark figure for the budget?" = An approximate number, not exact.
"Step up to the plate" — Prendre ses responsabilités / Se montrer à la hauteur
"Someone needs to step up to the plate and lead this project." = Take responsibility when it matters.
"Someone needs to step up to the plate and lead this project." = Take responsibility when it matters.
From other sports
"The ball is in your court" (tennis) — La balle est dans ton camp
"We've sent the proposal — the ball is in their court." = It's their turn to act. Same image in French.
"We've sent the proposal — the ball is in their court." = It's their turn to act. Same image in French.
"Down to the wire" (horse racing) — Jusqu'au bout / Sur le fil
"The negotiation went down to the wire." = It wasn't decided until the very last moment.
"The negotiation went down to the wire." = It wasn't decided until the very last moment.
"Par for the course" (golf) — Normal / Prévisible
"Delays on this project? Par for the course." = Expected, typical, nothing surprising.
"Delays on this project? Par for the course." = Expected, typical, nothing surprising.
Why this matters
You don't need to use all of these. But you need to recognise them. When your British colleague says "the client keeps moving the goalposts," you need to understand instantly — not ask "what goalposts?"
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