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“Drop the ball” 🏀
Meaning: To fail to follow through on an obligation, responsibility, or commitment, often resulting in a negative consequence.
Origin
The phrase “drop the ball” originated in the early 20th century in the United States. It is believed to have come from sports, where a dropped ball was seen as a missed opportunity or a failure to capitalize on a chance. The phrase gained popularity in the 1920s and has since become a common idiom.
Real-Time Example
Imagine you’re working on a group project at work, and your team member is supposed to handle all the research but hasn’t submitted any reports yet. You’ve been waiting for days, and now it’s crunch time with an upcoming deadline. Your colleague suddenly becomes unavailable, and you realize they’ve dropped the ball.
“I’m so sorry, I completely dropped the ball on that report,” she says, realizing her mistake.
Other Everyday Contexts
| Situation | Usage |
|---|---|
| Missing a payment due date | “[Payment reminder] - You really need to drop the ball on this payment!” |
| Failing to follow up with a lead | “[Follow-up call] - Sorry, we dropped the ball on that lead, and now it’s gone cold.” |
| Dropping the gym membership | “[Gym membership cancellation] - I’m afraid you’ll have to drop the ball on that membership if you don’t renew soon.” |
In short: To abandon or neglect a responsibility, resulting in negative consequences.