1、 keep moving the goal posts：people change rules so make it difficult to achieve the goal

my sales target last month was 50，000RMB。But every time I make my target my boss keeps moving the goal posts to higher and higher targets。

1、 back the wrong horse：bet the wrong horse

you’ve been supporting Manchester United this season，but Arsenal won the championships。It looks like you’ve backed the wrong horse this tie。

2、 horses for courses：giving right job to appropriate person。

3、 neck and neck = neck in neck：same/equal in a competition

my company is neck in neck with our competitor to get the largest market share-neither one can seem to get ahead of the other。

4、 keep sb onside ：ensure/support of a particular group

I’d like to say we can do this project alone，but I think it will be valuable to keep a consulting firm onside just incase。

5、 drop the ball：lost the game / fail

6、 play ball： cooperate

we tried to get the bank to lend us money for our new project，but they refused to play ball。

7、 the ball’s in your court：it’s your turn to act

I’ve done everything I can with the project，I think now the ball’s in your court。

8、 a level playing field：a possibility for both sides to have an equal play

China’s joining the WTO will help to create a level playing field in international trade。

9、 par for the courses：the expected result

The boss says we have to work overtime again this weekend。Well，that’s par for the course，isn’t it？we always have extra work before Spring Festival。

10、 touch base：contact somebody

I’ve haven’t seen you for a while and I’m coming to town later，so I thought I might stop by and touch base。Is that ok？

11、 a major player：a very important person

Sony is a major player in marking electronics products。

12、 heavyweight：has power could control

A lot of heavyweights in the construction industry will attend the conference in March。

13、 on the ball：be well-informed

my assistant is really great。She’s always on the ball and ready to help with any project。

14、 in a whole new ball game：be in a different position

Everybody used to watch VCDs，but when DVDs were introduced we were in a whole new ball game。

15、 run with the ball：take the idea and try your best to make it。

If we can get the marketing department to run with the ball this products should sell ready well。