IdiomDaily Life
English
Englishdrop the ball
Meaning: To make a mistake, especially by failing to do something one was responsible for.
Example: “Someone dropped the ball and nobody booked the venue.”
Origin: From ball games, where dropping a catch costs the team. The figurative use is American, common from the mid-20th century.
Other ways to say this
Greek: Τα έκανε θάλασσα Literally: He turned it all into a sea
Portuguese: Pisar na bola Literally: To step on the ball
Romanian: A o da în bară Literally: To hit it into the post
Spanish: No dar pie con bola Literally: To not give foot to ball- English: make a hash of something
More English idioms
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- the eye of the storm The center of a crisis; sometimes a brief calm in the middle of it.
- poor as a church mouse Extremely poor.
- tough luck Said when nothing can be done about a disappointment, often without much sympathy.
- cut to the chase To get straight to the point.
- be lost for words To be so surprised or moved that one cannot speak.
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Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Tête de linotte A scatterbrain who can't hold a thought.
- Courir sur le haricot To get badly on someone's nerves.
- Tienes menos luces que un barco pirata You're really not the brightest.
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