keep one's eye on the ball

verb

To maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme.

Opposite
take one's eye off the ball
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Meanings

verbkeep one's eye on the ball (third-person singular simple present keeps one's eye on the ball, present participle keeping one's eye on the ball, simple past and past participle kept one's eye on the ball)

present singular third person keeps one's eye on the ball · participle present keeping one's eye on the ball · participle past kept one's eye on the ball · past kept one's eye on the ball · alternative keep one's eyes on the ball

  1. idiomaticTo maintain one's concentration fixed on one important theme.
    1 more example

    2006 Feb 18, Michael Holden quoting Sir Alan Sugar in The Guardian, You can call me Sir Al My ethos has always been to be very straight with people, tell it as it is. It doesn't often make people happy but I found that over a period of time it's better to be that way. So being straight, also being very focused on your objectives, keep your eye on the ball and not get deflected away from it.

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
take one's eye off the ball

Origin

From general sporting advice to look at the ball when playing it, particularly a golf ball on the tee.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

keep one's eye on the ball. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20eye%20on%20the%20ball

MLA

“keep one's eye on the ball.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20eye%20on%20the%20ball. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keep one's eye on the ball,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20one's%20eye%20on%20the%20ball.

Source: keep one's eye on the ball on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.