Meanings
alternative have the ball in one's court
- idiomaticIt is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.
Well there's not much more I can do, so the ball is in your court now.
1 more example
Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility. Not just from us, but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU. And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court, but I am optimistic it will receive a positive response.
2017 October 9, Theresa May, 1:05 from the start, in Theresa May's Brexit speech, via The Guardian
Origin
From tennis, as when the ball is in someone's court it is their turn to play.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Arabic الكرة في ملعبه
- الكرة في ملعبهTranslations
Catalan la pilota és a la teulada d'algú
- la pilota és a la teulada d'algúTranslations
Finnish pallo on jollakulla
- pallo on jollakullaTranslations
French la balle est dans le camp de quelqu'un
- la balle est dans le camp de quelqu'unTranslations
German am Zug sein, dran sein
- am Zug seinTranslations
- dran seinTranslations
Hungarian nála pattog a labda
- nála pattog a labdaTranslations
Polish piłka jest po czyjejś stronie
- piłka jest po czyjejś stronieTranslations
Romanian mingea e în terenul cuiva
- mingea e în terenul cuivaTranslations
Spanish la pelota está en el tejado de alguien
- la pelota está en el tejado de alguienTranslations
Cite this entry
the ball is in someone's court. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ball%20is%20in%20someone's%20court
“the ball is in someone's court.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ball%20is%20in%20someone's%20court. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the ball is in someone's court,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20ball%20is%20in%20someone's%20court.
Source: the ball is in someone's court on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.