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Leave the Ball in Someone's Court

What Does "Leave the Ball in Someone's Court" Mean?

homeidiomsLeave the Ball in Someone's Court
"Leave the ball in someone's court" is an English idiom. It means "to give someone the responsibility to make a decision or take the next step."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "leave the ball in someone's court" used in a sentence:
  • I've done all I can; the ball is in your court now.
  • She left the ball in his court regarding the next move in the negotiation.
  • Now that I've apologized, the ball is in her court.
meaning for leave the ball in someone's court

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Leave the Ball in Someone's Court" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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