leave the ball in someone's court
To hand over the responsibility or choice to someone to make a decision or take action about something.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I sent the contract, so now I leave the ball in your court.”
“I have made my final offer, so I will leave the ball in your court to decide.”
“Having presented the necessary evidence and outlined the potential risks, the mediator chose to leave the ball in their court to reach a final resolution.”
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another nail in someone's coffin
An event that increases the likelihood of or causes further failure.
- 02
answer someone's prayers
To be or do exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 03
answer to someone's prayers
Exactly what someone has been wishing or asking for.
- 04
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 05
ball hog
In team sports, a player who keeps the ball to themselves, rather than passing it.
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ball of fire
A person who is especially active, ambitious, hard-working, or high-achieving.
- 07
ball of malt
A glass of whiskey.
- 08
balls of steel
Courage, audacity.
Last updated August 10, 2026