the ball is in your court
/ðə ˈbɔːl ɪz ɪn jə ˈkɔːt/INFORMAL · C1
Meaning
it is now your turn to act or decide
Examples
- 1The ball is in your court: if you want to fix the friendship, call her.
- 2I've apologised twice; the ball is in her court if she wants to stay friends.
- 3We've offered you the job at the salary you asked for, so the ball is in your court.
- 4Do you want the flat or not? Remember, the ball is in your court and the landlord won't wait for ever.
- 5The school has given Mia two options for next year, and now the ball is in her court.
Grammar
A clause. is can change to was; your changes to my, their, Leo's and so on, naming whoever has to act next.
More idioms about sports
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →get the ball rollingto make something start happeningthrow in the towelto stop trying because you know you cannot succeeda level playing fielda situation where everyone has the same chancejump the gunto act too soon, before the right momentbelow the beltunfair and cruel, especially of a remarkdrop the ballto make a mistake by failing to deal with something
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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