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Glite Dictionary
to move the chains

to move the chains

1 7.6
To make steady progress toward a goal by taking small needed steps
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : avanzar
  • The team must be able to sustain drives and move the chains.

Examples

  • "Whether it was blocking or moving the chains, I just wanted to help the offense go," the De La Salle High School graduate said.

    Blog text (30)

  • Your job is to move the chains.

    American Underdog (2021)

  • Mixing it, running the pass, and moving the chains.

    Blog text (26)

  • That's using the two fine running backs to go with a passing game, when needed and necessary, that will move the chains.

    Blog text (22)

  • Two plays before scoring on his short touchdown run, Dix moved the chains with a short run on third down.

    Blog text (22)

  • Richardson has been having a good season, but he needs to find a way to move the chains in short yardage situations.

    Blog text (22)

  • USC will be able to move the chains by dominating UGA's defensive line.

    Blog text (26)

  • Running back T.J. Yeldon carried twice to set up third-and-2, then ripped a 15-yard run off right tackle to move the chains.

    Blog text (27)

  • The Crimson failed to gain a single first down on six drives and only converted four of 13 third downs, while the Quakers effectively moved the chains on half of their own third downs.

    Blog text (26)

  • To win the championship, the team needs to focus on moving the chains and making steady progress.

Synonyms

to making progress
vsto move the chains
251 2.8

Getting better at a task or skill you are working on

emphasizes stepwise gains toward a goal rather than broad improvement
to keep it moving
vsto move the chains
  • Informal
161 4.4

Move forward without stopping or slowing down

focuses on achieving necessary steps and staged advancement not mere continuity
to move ahead
vsto move the chains
61 2.7

To start or continue something so it gets closer to a goal

progress by completing required steps and advancing in stages
to push forward
vsto move the chains
19 3.1

To keep making progress despite problems

advances by completing required stages rather than just forcing progress
to make headway
vsto move the chains
9 3.5

To make slow progress when it is difficult

stresses reaching needed steps and stages rather than slow struggle

Antonyms

to fail
898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Far

to move the chains
  • Informal
1 7.6
to stall
166 4.3

Surface Forms

move the chains infinitive
moved the chains past
moved the chains past participle
moving the chains present participle
moves the chains third person singular

Morphology

move + the + chain

There is a partial compositional clue: 'move' (advance) plus 'chains' (literally physical markers or metaphorical constraints) can suggest making progress, but the idiomatic sense comes from American football and requires cultural/domain knowledge. The link is metaphorical and domain-specific, so a B1 learner who only knows the words would likely not reliably infer the MWE's full meaning without exposure.

Etymology

Move the chains comes from American football, where a ten-yard chain on the side of the field is moved forward when a team gains a 'first down'. So today, to move the chains means 'to make steady progress' toward a goal, moving forward one small step at a time.