Idiom
The ball is in your court
The ball is in your court means it is now your turn to act or make a decision.
How people use it
People say this after they have done their part and are waiting for someone else: an offer has been made, a question asked or an apology given. The pronoun changes: "the ball is in their court" or "the ball is in his court." The tone is neutral and common in business, negotiations and personal life. It can sound slightly pushy, as if pressing the other person to respond.
Also said: the ball is in their court.
Examples
- I sent the landlord my offer, so the ball is in his court now.
- We've apologized twice, and the ball is in their court.
- Your boss gave you two options, so the ball is in your court.
Where it comes from
The image comes from tennis and similar court games. When the ball lands on your side of the net, it is your job to hit it back. The phrase came into figurative use in the middle of the 1900s, first in American and then in British English.
Check yourself
1. After a job offer, the recruiter says, "The ball is in your court." What does she mean?
Answer: It's your turn to decide. The idiom means the next move belongs to you.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: I've told Maya how I feel, so the ball is in her court.. Maya now has to respond, so it is her move.
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