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drop the ball

IdiomLevel B2

To make a mistake by forgetting or failing to do something you should do.

Sorry, I dropped the ball and forgot to send the invitation.

'Drop the ball' means to fail to do something you were responsible for. It is informal and common at work.

Comic strip. Ken: Olena, where is the report? I dropped the ball! Olena: Why are you holding a ball? Ken: It's an idiom! I forgot my task. Steventeacher: 'Drop the ball' means make a mistake by forgetting something.
Steventeacher explains “drop the ball”.
Your turn
Have you ever dropped the ball? Tell us!