Phrase guide

the ball is in someone's court

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

It is someone's turn to do something; often making a decision.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Well there's not much more I can do, so the ball is in your court now.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: الكرة في ملعبه — Translations
  • Catalan: la pilota és a la teulada d'algú — Translations
  • Finnish: pallo on jollakulla — Translations
  • French: la balle est dans le camp de quelqu'un — Translations
  • German: am Zug sein — Translations
  • German: dran sein — Translations
  • Hungarian: nála pattog a labda — Translations
  • Polish: piłka jest po czyjejś stronie — Translations
  • Romanian: mingea e în terenul cuiva — Translations
  • Spanish: la pelota está en el tejado de alguien — Translations