drop the ball Make an error; miss an opportunity. For example, She really dropped the ball when she forgot to call back, or He dropped the ball, turning down their offer. This expression comes from sports where a player who fails to catch a ball is charged with an error. Its use for more general kinds of mistakes dates from about 1950.

“Drop the ball” is a pretty common idiomatic expression we use that means to fail in one’s responsibilities or duties, make a mistake, or simply let someone down. You’ll see it used in contexts where someone didn’t live up to the expectations of others or didn’t complete something the way they should have.

"Drop the ball" means to make a mistake or fail to do something that you were supposed to do.

Beyond its literal interpretation, “drop the ball” is a widely used idiom that carries a metaphorical meaning. This idiomatic expression refers to a person’s failure to fulfill a responsibility, complete a task, or meet an expectation. It signifies a lack of follow-through or a missed opportunity in a broader sense.