set the ball rolling

USAGE SUMMARY

"set the ball rolling" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
It is typically used as an idiom to mean beginning an action or process. For example, "Let's set the ball rolling and start planning the trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After a pilot launch in India, the company might roll out WhatsApp for business to other regions which can set the ball rolling for monetization of the platform.

Forbes

City set the ball rolling.

The Guardian - Sport

Aston Villa set the ball rolling.

The Guardian - Sport

Cameron set the ball rolling on other important reforms.

The Guardian - Business

Third Division Forfar, meanwhile, set the ball rolling against Rangers.

The Guardian - Sport

Italy set the ball rolling for the second half.

The Guardian - Sport

Webber set the ball rolling with 1 12.581 to go fastest.

Independent

"The very night I learned they had been kidnapped, I set the ball rolling," he said.

The New Yorker

What better way to set the ball rolling on this topic than with some puzzles?

The New York Times

Gary set the ball rolling (er, bouncing) last week and I'll add a few more today.

The New York Times

We can think of a couple of recent - albeit obvious - examples to set the ball rolling.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "set the ball rolling" when you want to emphasize the act of initiating something, often with the expectation that others will continue the work. It's best used when the initial action is crucial for subsequent progress.

Common error

Don't use "set the ball rolling" if you're describing a single, self-contained action. This phrase implies that the initial action is meant to lead to further developments or actions by others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set the ball rolling" functions as an idiomatic expression. Ludwig examples show its usage to describe initiating an action or process, often implying a series of subsequent events. According to Ludwig, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Sport

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "set the ball rolling" is a very common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to describe initiating an action or process with the expectation of further developments. According to Ludwig, the phrase is widely used in News & Media and sports contexts. While versatile, it's important to ensure the context implies continuation, and it's not used for isolated actions. Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of this phrase and its function as an idiom.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

start the ball rolling

A variation with 'start' instead of 'set', maintaining the core meaning.

get the ball rolling

Synonymous, with a slightly more casual tone.

begin the process

General and straightforward, simply indicating the start of a process.

kick things off

Informal, emphasizing the initiation of an event or activity.

get underway

Describes the commencement of a process or event.

set in motion

Describes initiating a series of events or processes.

initiate proceedings

Formal, often used in legal or official contexts.

commence action

Formal and direct, indicating the start of a planned activity.

get the show on the road

Informal, suggesting a desire to begin an activity or journey.

trigger the start

Emphasis is on causing something to begin, often with a specific event.

FAQs

How can I use "set the ball rolling" in a sentence?

You can use "set the ball rolling" to describe initiating a process or activity. For example, "The meeting "set the ball rolling" for the new project".

What does "set the ball rolling" mean?

The phrase "set the ball rolling" means to initiate an action or process, implying that it will lead to further developments or actions.

Which is a more formal alternative to "set the ball rolling"?

A more formal alternative to "set the ball rolling" is "initiate proceedings" or "commence action".

What are some similar phrases to "set the ball rolling"?

Similar phrases include "get the ball rolling", "kick things off", and "start the ball rolling".