Meaning & use
don't drop the ball
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative
Don't make a careless mistake that ruins an important plan or task you are responsible for.
Grammar: Used as a warning or piece of advice; the subject is usually 'you' and is not spoken.
Patterns
- don't drop the ball on something
- someone dropped the ball
We're almost finished with the project—don't drop the ball now.
She dropped the ball on the client's order and we lost the account.
The coach told the team not to drop the ball in the final minutes.
Common combinations
- drop the ball on
- He dropped the ball on the travel arrangements and we missed the flight.
- don't drop the ball
- Don't drop the ball—this presentation is crucial.
- drop the ball badly
- The government dropped the ball badly during the crisis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mess up
- More general and often used for small mistakes; 'drop the ball' suggests failing at a duty you were trusted with.
- fumble
- Often used for physical or sports mistakes, while 'drop the ball' is mainly about responsibility.
Practice
The team was winning until the goalie ___ and let in an easy shot.
Choose one answer.
The fixed idiom is 'drop the ball' with 'the'. 'Dropped a ball' changes the idiom and sounds literal; 'dropped the balls' is plural and wrong; 'dropped ball' lacks the article.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “don't drop the ball”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.