C1idiominformalworkIELTS-friendly
on the ball
USUK
quick to understand and react, and aware of what is happening
Usually after 'be', often with 'really'. 'Drop the ball' (make a mistake by not paying attention) is roughly the opposite.
In context
Our new assistant is really on the ball; she answered every email before lunch.
I'm not very on the ball this morning because I only slept four hours.
More idioms about work
- a baptism of firea very difficult first experience of a new job or activity
- a cushy joba job that is easy and pleasant but still pays well
- a dead-end joba job with no chance of promotion or of learning anything new
- a jack of all tradesa person who can do many different kinds of work fairly well
- a labour of lovehard work that you do because you enjoy it or care about it, not for money