# take one's eye off the ball

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/take-ones-eye-off-the-ball
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To lose one's concentration on what is most important.

## Examples

- Don't take your eye off the ball while you are driving.
- The company lost many customers because the manager took his eye off the ball during the expansion.
- Even a minor distraction can be fatal if an experienced pilot takes their eye off the ball during a difficult landing.

## Origin

From general sporting advice to look continuously at the ball as it moves. The phrase transitioned from the field of play to general English as a metaphor for a loss of concentration.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.