take one's ball and go home
To cease participating in an activity that has turned to one's disadvantage, especially out of spite, or in a way that prevents others from participating as well.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
The idiom derives from the image of children engaged in a sport where the ball is the exclusive property of a single participant. If the owner of the equipment feels slighted or is losing the game, they simply depart with the ball, thereby terminating the activity for the entire group. It is an exercise in leveraging private ownership to avoid an unfavourable social outcome.
- 01
abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
- 06
air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
- 07
air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026