drop the ball

drop the ball

1. To make a mistake. I think she really dropped the ball when she decided to quit that promising internship.
2. To forget about or neglect someone or something. I know I dropped the ball today—I just got swamped at work and completely forgot about picking the kids up from school.
See also: ball, drop
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

drop the ball

 
1. . Lit. [in a ball game of some type] to let the ball get away or fall out of one's grasp. Good grief! Bill dropped the ball, just as he was about to score!
2. Fig. to make a blunder; to fail in some way. Everything was going fine in the election until my campaign manager dropped the ball. You can't trust John to do the job right. He's always dropping the ball.
See also: ball, drop
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

drop the ball

Make an error; miss an opportunity. For example, She really dropped the ball when she forgot to call back, or He dropped the ball, turning down their offer. This expression comes from sports where a player who fails to catch a ball is charged with an error. Its use for more general kinds of mistakes dates from about 1950.
See also: ball, drop
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

drop the ball

mainly AMERICAN
If someone drops the ball, they make a mistake or do something silly. Some say the Academy dropped the ball last year by failing to recognise Linklater's film in the Best Animated Feature category. There are people who'd like to see me fall, I know that. But I'm not afraid. I won't drop the ball.
See also: ball, drop
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

drop the ball

make a mistake; mishandle things. North American informal
See also: ball, drop
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

drop the ˈball

(American English, informal) make a mistake and spoil something that you are responsible for: I could use some help. I don’t want to drop the ball on this one. He thinks that you dropped the ball on the Swiss project.
See also: ball, drop
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

drop the ball

tv. to fail at something; to allow something to fail. I didn’t want to be the one who dropped the ball, but I knew that someone would flub up.
See also: ball, drop
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

drop the ball

To make a mistake or fail to do something important.
See also: ball, drop
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • appear to
  • a piece of the action
  • a piece/slice of the action
  • a change of heart
  • a bit of the action
  • bit of the action
  • (one) can whistle for it
  • a mystery to (one)
  • a hidden agenda
  • a turn of phrase
References in periodicals archive
Each year, Hizzoner chooses a guest to help drop the ball and count down the year's final minute, the New York Post reported.
Lady Gaga to drop ball in Times Square
You can incur a one-stroke penalty, drop the ball outside the hazard two club lengths from the point where it last crossed the margin of the hazard and play another shot from there.
In the swing: tips and tidbits for Sarasota golfers
From what height should you drop the ball? And how will you measure the bounce?
Follow the bouncing ball: the best offense for a winning science project is a step-by-step plan
had recovered and organized inside the penalty box, Zinho chose to retreat and again to drop the ball back - this time to Roberto Carlos, a wide defender (#9).
Accentuating the positive in negative space
An extremely important aspect of your inquiry handling program will be adequate follow-up to make sure your salesperson or agent doesn't drop the ball by failing to contact the prospect.
How well are your inquiries handled?
Floyd Mayweather let's not drop the ball on fighting each other next year!
Pacquiao drops New Year greeting to Floyd
You drop the ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of (i) the point where the original ball entered the hazard or (ii) a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole.
Water hazards - the lowdown
He eventually persuaded the referee to drop the ball, where he promptly knocked it behind for a goal-kick.
Cost of fair play
He seemed to have Martin Smith's 35-yard effort covered, only to drop the ball over his own goal-line.
Football: Rushden 3 Northampton 2
If you want to win a match you can't afford to drop the ball like we did so many times.
Inconsistent France seek to improve
Kendall said: "I have never seen Kelly drop the ball so many times all season.
Blades have their work cut out; Port Vale 0 Sheff United 0
Play patiently (drop the ball back to supporting players, hold the ball when not pressured, look to switch fields when possible).
Attractive, open, attacking soccer: how about that?
Drop the ball to the ground and let it bounce so your observer can spot how high it bounces alongside the ruler.
Shooting hoops
Drop the ball in the bunKer without penalty at the nearest point, not nearer the hole, where the depth of the casual water is least - Rule 25-1b(ii)(a).
ONE-SHOT GLORY; stories through to Linda Whitwam at golf@examiner.co.uk Alliance success for Bradley Hall in close-run duel
In swamp soccer, the offside rule does not apply and kick-offs, throwins, corners, free kicks and penalties are taken by using the hands to drop the ball onto a chosen foot.
And you thought that Robbie Savage was a dirty player.