How do you use "Drop the ball" in a sentence?

The marketing team really dropped the ball on this campaign. I dropped the ball on that project. Don't drop the ball on the client meeting.

Drop the ball

Q: What does "Drop the ball" mean?

To make a mistake or fail to follow through. To fail at a responsibility, especially when others were counting on you. From sports—literally dropping the ball.

Slang Term AmericanBritishAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Significado: To make a mistake or fail to follow through.

犯错误或未能完成任务。

Cometer un error o no cumplir con algo.

ミスをする、やり遂げられない。

실수를 하다, 해야 할 일을 제대로 못하다.

To fail at a responsibility, especially when others were counting on you. From sports—literally dropping the ball.

未能履行责任，特别是当别人指望你的时候。源自体育运动中把球掉了。

Fallar en una responsabilidad, especialmente cuando otros contaban contigo. Viene del deporte, de dejar caer el balón.

特に他の人が頼りにしていたときに責任を果たせないこと。スポーツでボールを落とすことに由来。

특히 다른 사람들이 기대하고 있을 때 맡은 일을 실패하는 것. 스포츠에서 말 그대로 공을 떨어뜨리는 것에서 유래했다.

Significado literal: Fumble the ball in sports

Ejemplos

The marketing team really dropped the ball on this campaign.
市场团队在这次活动上搞砸了
El equipo de marketing la pifió con esta campaña
マーケティングチームはこのキャンペーンで大失態をした
마케팅팀이 이번 캠페인에서 크게 실수했다.
I dropped the ball on that project.
我在那个项目上搞砸了
La pifié con ese proyecto
あのプロジェクトでしくじってしまった
그 프로젝트에서 실수해 버렸다.
Don't drop the ball on the client meeting.
客户会议上别掉链子
No la pifies en la reunión con el cliente
クライアントとの会議でミスするなよ
고객 미팅에서 실수하지 마.

Pronunciación

/drɒp ðə bɔːl/

Guía de uso

Contexto: mistake, failure to deliver, responsibility

Tono: critical, disappointed

✓ Correcto

Dropped the ball.
搞砸了
Metieron la pata
ヘマをした
실수했어.
They dropped the ball.
他们搞砸了
Ellos metieron la pata
彼らがヘマをした
걔네가 일을 망쳤어.
Can't drop the ball on this.
这件事不能搞砸
No podemos meter la pata con esto
これは失敗できない
이건 절대 실수하면 안 돼.

✗ Incorrecto

Made a mistake
Made a mistake（太普通）
Made a mistake（demasiado común）
Made a mistake（平凡すぎる）
Made a mistake (너무 평범함)
Failed to deliver
Failed to deliver（太正式）
Failed to deliver（demasiado formal）
Failed to deliver（堅すぎる）
Failed to deliver (너무 딱딱함)

Errores comunes

Common in workplace contexts
Implies others were affected

Origen e historia

From sports—fumbling or missing a catch.

Etimología: American sports slang

Primera vez registrado: Early 20th century

Contexto cultural

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: American football; Business contexts

Regional notes: American origin but now universal.

Variaciones

Drop the ballDropped the ballDropping the ball

Frases relacionadas

Más de este tema

Smash it ★★★★★ To succeed brilliantly or perform excellently. Nail it ★★★★★ To do something perfectly or exactly right. Pull it off ★★★★★ To succeed in doing something difficult. Fall through ★★★★★ To fail to happen or be completed. Ace it ★★★★★ To do something extremely well, especially a test. Flop ★★★★★ A complete failure, especially of a performance or product.