dropped the ball

USAGE SUMMARY

"dropped the ball" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to make a mistake or fail to complete a task or responsibility. It can be used in any context where someone has made a mistake or failed to fulfill their duties. Example: The CEO of the company dropped the ball when they failed to secure a major client, costing the company a significant amount of revenue.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He dropped the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

We dropped the ball.

The New York Times

Who dropped the ball?

The New York Times

Then he dropped the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

Peterson dropped the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

Once more, the C.I.A. dropped the ball.

The New York Times

"Somebody dropped the ball," Mr. Copello said.

The New York Times

On which they totally dropped the ball.

The New York Times

And then Welker dropped the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

But Hixon dropped the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

But they dropped the ball.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dropped the ball" when you want to convey that someone made a mistake that led to a negative outcome or a missed opportunity. It's particularly effective in contexts where responsibility and accountability are key.

Common error

While "dropped the ball" is widely understood, avoid overusing it in highly formal reports or academic papers. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "failed to meet expectations" or "did not achieve the desired outcome" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dropped the ball" functions as an idiomatic expression to describe a situation where someone has failed to meet expectations or has made a significant error, as demonstrated in the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Sports

17%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "dropped the ball" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic phrase used to express that someone made a mistake or failed to fulfill a responsibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is suitable for most contexts, although it might be less appropriate for highly formal or academic writing. Its frequency is high in news and media, sports, and business contexts, signaling its widespread understanding. When aiming for alternative expressions, consider options like "failed to deliver" or "missed the mark". Avoiding overuse in formal contexts is advisable to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell short

Indicates a failure to reach a required level or standard.

failed to deliver

Emphasizes the unmet expectation or promised outcome.

missed the mark

Highlights the failure to achieve a desired goal or standard.

didn't come through

Similar to "failed to deliver", but focuses on a personal commitment.

didn't measure up

Highlights a failure to meet the necessary criteria or standards.

made a blunder

Focuses on the mistake itself rather than the missed opportunity.

fell down on the job

Highlights negligence or dereliction of duty.

mishandled the situation

Specifically refers to managing a situation poorly.

erred

A more formal term for making a mistake.

screwed up

A more informal and stronger way to say someone made a mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "dropped the ball" in a sentence?

You can use "dropped the ball" to indicate that someone has made a mistake or failed to fulfill a responsibility. For example, "The team dropped the ball by not adequately preparing for the presentation."

What are some alternatives to saying "dropped the ball"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "failed to deliver", "missed the mark", or "fell short" instead of "dropped the ball".

Is "dropped the ball" formal or informal?

"Dropped the ball" is considered an informal idiom. It's suitable for everyday conversations and less formal writing but might be inappropriate for highly formal contexts.

What does it mean to say someone "dropped the ball"?

To say someone "dropped the ball" means they made a mistake or failed to take necessary action, resulting in a negative outcome or missed opportunity.