C1idiominformalworkIELTS-friendly
drop the ball
USUK
to make a mistake by forgetting or failing to do something you were responsible for
Common in workplace talk, especially in American English. Often 'drop the ball on something'.
In context
Someone dropped the ball and nobody booked a room for the client meeting.
I'm sorry I dropped the ball on your reference letter. I'll send it today.
More idioms about work
- a nine-to-five joba regular office job with fixed hours, usually from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- bite off more than you can chewto try to do more than you are able to manage
- call it a dayto decide to stop working, usually because you have done enough for now
- cut cornersto do something quickly or cheaply by skipping steps, often lowering quality or safety
- get the sackto be told by your employer that you no longer have a job, often for doing something wrong