IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishcarry the ball
Meaning: To take on work or responsibility in order to keep a project moving forward.
Example: “With the manager on leave, Jen is carrying the ball on the new account.”
Origin: American football gave the phrase its literal starting point: the player carrying the ball is the one directly responsible for gaining ground, and everyone else on the offense exists to protect or support that single carrier. By the early 1900s the image had already transferred to non-sports contexts, describing whoever takes on the lead role in advancing a project, negotiation, or cause — the person the rest of the team is, in effect, blocking for.
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