Word.ws English Dictionary

the ball is in someone's court

the ball is in someone's court phrase: it is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.

Phrase

the ball is in someone's court

  1. (idiomatic) It is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.
    • Well there's not much more I can do, so the ball is in your court now.
    • Achieving that partnership will require leadership and flexibility. Not just from us, but from our friends, the 27 nations of the EU. And as we look forward to the next stage, the ball is in their court, but I am optimistic it will receive a positive response.2017 October 9, Theresa May, 1:05 from the start, in Theresa May's Brexit speech, via The Guardian

the ball is in someone's court meaning in Arabic

the ball is in someone's court in Arabic

Translations
الكرة في ملعبه

Forms of the ball is in someone's court

alternative formhave the ball in one's court

Origin of the ball is in someone's court

From tennis, as when the ball is in someone's court it is their turn to play.

Questions about the ball is in someone's court

What does the ball is in someone's court mean?
The ball is in someone's court means it is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.
What is the ball is in someone's court in Arabic?
The ball is in someone's court in Arabic is الكرة في ملعبه. See The ball is in someone's court meaning in Arabic.
What part of speech is the ball is in someone's court?
The ball is in someone's court is a phrase.

Words near the ball is in someone's court in the dictionary

  1. the ayes have it
  2. the bad penny always comes back
  3. the bad penny always turns up
  4. the bad place
  5. The Bahamas
  6. the ball is in someone's court
  7. The Basin
  8. the bee's knees
  9. the bejabbers out of
  10. the bejeebers out of
  11. the bejesus out of

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: the ball is in someone's court (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

Last updated:

Pronunciation audio from Wikimedia Commons, each file under its own free license: En-au-the ball is in someone's court.ogg.

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