passing the ball

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "passing the ball" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to sports, teamwork, or metaphorically to indicate sharing responsibility or information. Example: "During the game, he excelled at passing the ball to his teammates, creating numerous scoring opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We're passing the ball poorly".

The New York Times - Sports

"What we are doing now is passing the ball around".

The New York Times

"He was not passing the ball, at all".

The New York Times - Sports

We were passing the ball and full of confidence again.

The Guardian - Sport

Hamburg are passing the ball around with ease now.

The Guardian - Sport

The team did a good job of passing the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

"He got it going just by passing the ball.

The New York Times - Sports

After passing the ball patiently in midfield, Branislav Ivanovic whipped in a cross from the right.

Independent

If it's shoot the ball more, rebounding more, passing the ball more, I'm all for it".

The New York Times - Sports

The Spurs constantly stress passing the ball and making plays as a team.

The New York Times

But I grew up playing football, passing the ball around, sometimes taking risks.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about teamwork, use "passing the ball" to emphasize collaboration and shared effort.

Common error

While "passing the ball" can be a useful metaphor, avoid using it excessively in contexts unrelated to sports, as it can sound cliché or out of place.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "passing the ball" is as a verb phrase, often functioning as the predicate of a sentence. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a valid and understandable English phrase. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing actions within sports contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Sport

36%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passing the ball" is a very common and grammatically sound verb phrase primarily used in sports contexts to describe the act of transferring possession of the ball. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is both correct and widely understood. While predominantly found in news and sports media, its metaphorical usage extends to describing shared responsibility. When writing, be mindful of overusing it in non-sports-related scenarios to maintain clarity and avoid clichés. Related phrases include "making a pass" or "transferring possession". Ludwig's examples offer a wide array of usage scenarios, highlighting its versatility within sports and beyond.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making a pass

A more generic term for the act of passing.

transferring possession

Focuses on the act of changing who has control or ownership.

handing off the ball

Highlights the action of giving the ball to another player.

distributing the ball

Emphasizes the spreading of the ball among different players.

relaying the sphere

Uses more formal language to describe the act of passing in sports.

shifting responsibility

Implies transferring a duty or task to someone else.

kicking the ball

Specifically refers to passing with the foot, often in soccer.

sharing the workload

Metaphorically refers to distributing responsibilities.

lobbing the ball

Implies a high, arching pass.

delegating authority

Refers to assigning power or control to another party.

FAQs

How can "passing the ball" be used metaphorically?

Metaphorically, "passing the ball" refers to delegating responsibility or sharing tasks, similar to how players share the ball in a game. This is akin to "shifting responsibility" or "delegating authority".

What are some alternatives to "passing the ball" in a sports context?

In sports, you can use alternatives like "making a pass", "distributing the ball", or even more specific terms like "kicking the ball" (in soccer).

Is "passing the ball" only used in sports contexts?

While most commonly used in sports, "passing the ball" can also metaphorically describe sharing responsibility or information. The appropriateness depends on the context.

What's the difference between "passing the ball" and "dribbling the ball"?

"Passing the ball" involves transferring possession to another player, while "dribbling the ball" involves maintaining control of the ball while moving, instead of "transferring possession".