drop the ball

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Explanation of "Drop the Ball"

Meaning: The phrase "drop the ball" means to make a mistake or fail to do something that you were supposed to do. It often refers to a situation where someone does not meet their responsibilities or expectations.

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, you might use "drop the ball" in discussions about teamwork or leadership, highlighting how one person's mistake can affect the entire group.

Word Variants:

• Dropped the ball (past tense)
• Dropping the ball (present participle)

Different Meanings:

While "drop the ball" primarily refers to making a mistake or failing to fulfill a responsibility, in sports, it literally means to fail to catch or hold onto a ball, leading to a missed play.

Synonyms:

• Make a mistake
• Mess up
• Fail
• Blunder
• Slip up

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• Mess up: Similar to "drop the ball," meaning to make a mistake.
• Fall short: This means not meeting a goal or standard.
• Let someone down: This means to fail to support or meet the expectations of someone.

Summary:

"Drop the ball" is an idiomatic expression used to describe making a mistake or failing to do something important.

Academic

Verb

1. commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake
   • I blundered during the job interview

Synonyms

• sin
• blunder
• boob
• goof