There are a surprising number of idioms that contain the word ‘ball’. This post looks at some of the most useful and intriguing ones.

Get/start the ball rolling: It means to do something to make an activity start or to encourage other people to do something similar to you.

Example: I’m hoping we can all share our ideas today. Who would like to start the ball rolling?

The ball is in someone’s court: It means that they need to do something before any progress can be made, and if we put the ball in someone’s court, we make sure that they are responsible for whatever happens next.

Example: Public Speaking Course has been offered to her, but the ball’s in her court now.

If you pick up/take the ball and run with it: It means to accept an idea or a plan and try enthusiastically to make progress with it:

Example: When Wabstalk came up with the idea of Sunday’s Workshop, the students picked up the ball and ran with it.

If someone drops the ball: It means to make a mistake that stops something from succeeding, often by being careless. This idiom is common in informal US English.

Example: We’re all relying on you, so it’s important you don’t drop the ball.

If you are on the ball: It means you are alert and understands things quickly.

Example: To be a successful investor, you really need to be on the ball because markets can change very quickly.

If someone plays ball: It means they do what someone asks them to do, especially so that they can achieve something together.
Note: This idiom is informal and is often used in negative sentences:

We wanted to replace the damaged car, but the insurance company refused to play ball.

Finally, Something is a whole new ballgame, we mean that it is a totally different situation, often a more difficult or extreme one:

Example: Delivering maiden speech in the last ‘Public Speaking Championship’ was a whole new ball game for me.

Idioms are a good way to give shape your ideas coherently I hope you will find some here that you can use!