moving



move house

To relocate from one house or place of residence to another. Primarily heard in UK. We only moved house last spring, but because of Pete's new job, we're going to have to do it again next month!
See also: house, move

move the yardsticks

To alter the rules or parameters of a situation in such a way as to suit one's needs or objectives, making it more difficult for someone else to succeed, keep pace, or achieve an opposing objective. (A US variant of the more common British phrase "move the goalposts.") Primarily heard in US. I hate arguing with that type of person. As soon as you start wearing down their logic, they just move the yardsticks on the whole thing! We're never going to get the book design finished in time if the publisher keeps moving the yardsticks every couple of months like this!
See also: move

move the goal

To alter the rules or parameters of a situation in such a way as to suit one's needs or objectives, making it more difficult for someone else to succeed, keep pace, or achieve an opposing objective. (A US variant of the more common British phrase "move the goalposts.") Primarily heard in US. I hate arguing with that type of person. As soon as you start wearing down their logic, they just move the goal on the whole thing! We're never going to get the book design finished in time if the publisher keeps moving the goal every couple of months like this!
See also: goal, move

move the goal line

To alter the rules or parameters of a situation in such a way as to suit one's needs or objectives, making it more difficult for someone else to succeed, keep pace, or achieve an opposing objective. (A variant of the more common "move the goalposts.") Primarily heard in UK. I hate arguing with that type of person. As soon as you start wearing down their logic, they just move the goal line on the whole thing! We're never going to get the book design finished in time if the publisher keeps moving the goal line every couple of months like this!
See also: goal, line, move

move through the gears

To steadily increase one's momentum, as of speed, intensity, progress, or success. The home team has been training for weeks for this showdown, but they've barely had to move through the gears against such a poor performance by their opponents. With a lot of hard work and perseverance, our little business is finally starting to move through the gears!
See also: gear, move

move the/(one's) clock(s) back

To adjust the time on one's clock(s) back by one hour to account for the end of daylight saving time. Don't forget to move your clock back tonight. I hate having to move the clocks back every autumn, it's such an antiquated custom.
See also: back, move

move the/(one's) clock(s) forward

To advance the time on one's clock(s) ahead by one hour to account for the beginning of daylight saving time. Don't forget to move your clock forward tonight or you'll end up oversleeping tomorrow! I hate having to move the clocks forward every spring, it's such an antiquated custom.
See also: forward, move

move (the) deckchairs on the Titanic

To partake in or undertake some task, activity, or course of action that will ultimately prove trivial or futile in its possible effect or outcome. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. For all his blustering about overhauling the education system, the prime minister might as well have been moving the deckchairs on the Titanic for all the good these proposals will do. You're applying for arts council funding? Why don't you just move deckchairs on the Titanic while you're at it?
See also: deckchairs, move, on, titanic

get moving

to get busy; to get started; to work harder or faster. Come on, every body. Get moving! The director is coming. You had better get moving.
See also: get, moving

(I) have to be moving along.

 and (I) have to move along.
It is time for me to leave. Bill: Bye, now. Have to be movingalong. Sally: See you later. Rachel: I have to be moving along. See you later. Andrew: Bye, now. Sally: It's late. I have to move along. Mary: If you must. Good-bye. See you tomorrow.
See also: have, moving

(I'd) better get moving.

Inf. an expression announcing the need to depart. Jane: It's nearly dark. Better get moving. Mary: Okay. See you later. Bob: I'm off. Good night. Bill: Look at the time! I'd better get moving too.
See also: better, get, moving

(I've) got to get moving.

I have to leave right now. (See also (I) have to shove off for other possible variations.) Tom: Time to go. Got to get moving. Sally: Bye, Tom. Mary: It's late and I've got to get moving. Sue: Well, if you must, okay. Come again sometime. Mary: Bye.
See also: get, moving

Moving three times is as bad as a fire.

Prov. If you move your household three times, you will lose or damage as many things as a fire in your house would have destroyed or damaged. Fred: The company is transferring me again. Ellen: But we can't make another move! Moving three times is as bad as a fire.
See also: bad, fire, moving, three, times

(You'd) better get moving.

an expression encouraging someone to leave. Jane: It's nearly dark. Better get moving. Mary: Okay. I'm leaving right now. Bob: I'm off. Good night. Bill: Yes, it's late. You'd better get moving.
See also: better, get, moving

the moving spirit

  (literary)
someone who starts an important organization or course of action (often + behind ) Born in Nkroful, Ghana, he was the moving spirit behind the Charter of African States.
See also: moving, spirit

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Aloys[ə'lɔis]
Unice-English (Rare)
Nikolina-Bulgarian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian
Ra'd-Arabic
MÁRiaMAH-ree-aw (Hungarian)Hungarian, Slovak
CariKER-ee, KAR-eeEnglish