Idioms

on the ball

This page is about the idiom on the ball

INFORMAL

Meaning

If you're on the ball, you're alert and you know what's going on around you.

For example

  • I didn't get much sleep last night so I'm not really on the ball today.

  • My brother is always on the ball, so it's hard to trick him or catch him unawares.

Quick Quiz

Someone really needs to be on the ball if they work as

a. a life model in a painter's studio

b. a dishwasher in a restaurant

c. an air-traffic controller at an airport
a) a life model in a painter's studio b) a dishwasher in a restaurant c) an air-traffic controller at an airport

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Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey