Don't do this. Don't drop the ball.
Idiom: drop the ball
Definition
(1) to make a mistake; (2) to fail because you were not ready. This phrase comes from sports such as baseball, where a players might drop a ball—a bad thing to do.
Examples
→ It is very important that you plan the birthday party well; don’t drop the ball.
Notes
This sports idiom could pertain to baseball, American football, and basketball.
It has long been used figuratively outside of sports. The phrase is used when people have others relying on them.
Level
This idiom, drop the ball, is medium- to advanced-level vocabulary. The phrase is common in business English and everyday conversation.
Idioms: Idioms are phrases whose meaning is not clear from the words in them. Idioms come from many sources. This is a sports idiom from baseball, a phrase that is now used figuratively outside of the sport. It is an example of the many popular, colorful idioms that come from baseball. Check out the book English for Baseball for more vocabulary from the sport. Or for general sports idioms, check out English Idioms 2: Sports—Hit a Home Run.
Learn more idioms at the Targets in English Lessons page. You can also find Targets in English on Twitter and the web.
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