The ball is in your court

Meaning

The idiom "the ball is in your court" means that it is now someone's turn to take action or make a decision, especially in a situation where there has been a pause or delay. It implies that the responsibility for moving things forward lies with the person who has possession of the ball, metaphorically speaking.

Usage

• "During the negotiations, the ball was in the CEO's court to make the final decision."
• "The ball is now in the court of the judge to rule on the case."
• "After the presentation, the ball is in the hands of the committee to decide on the next step."
• "The ball is in the customer's court to provide feedback on the product."
• "The ball is in the player's court to make the winning shot."

Roots and History

The origin of this idiom is not clear, but it has been used since at least the early 20th century. One theory suggests that the phrase comes from the game of tennis, where the player who hits the ball last has the opportunity to serve or make a return. Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the sport of golf, where the player who hits the ball closest to the hole has the chance to put it in and win the round. Over time, the idiom has been used in various contexts and has become a common expression for when it is someone's turn to take action or make a decision.

Synonyms in English

• "It's up to you to decide."
• "It's now or never."
• "The onus is on you."
• "The responsibility lies with you."
• "The fate of the outcome is in your hands."

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "C'est à vous de décider." (It's up to you to decide.)
• Spanish: "Es hora para ti hacer algo." (It's time for you to do something.)
• German: "Nun ist es an dir, entscheiden zu können." (Now it's up to you to decide.)
• Italian: "È la tua volta a fare qualcosa." (It's your turn to do something.)
• Mandarin Chinese: "现在是你的回应时间。" (Now is your response time.)

Similar Idioms

• kick the habit

• twist arm

• the best is yet to come