drop the ball
/ˌdrɒp ðə ˈbɔːl/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
to make a mistake by failing to deal with something
Examples
- 1Someone dropped the ball, and nobody booked the coach for the school trip.
- 2I'm sorry I dropped the ball on your birthday — I completely forgot to order the cake.
- 3The agency dropped the ball with our visas, so we missed the first week of the holiday.
- 4If the IT team drops the ball on the new system again, everyone's pay will be late.
- 5Who dropped the ball and forgot to tell the caterers there were fifty guests?
Grammar
Only drop changes form, and its p doubles: dropped, dropping. What was neglected often follows on or with.
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →par for the coursewhat is normal or expected, usually something badneck and neckexactly level in a competitiona game changersomething that transforms how things are doneout of your leaguenot good or skilled enough compared with otherssaved by the bellrescued from an awkward moment just before it gets worseacross the boardaffecting everyone or everything, with no exceptions
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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