Idiom of The Day – The Ball is in Your Court Meaning & Examples

Welcome back to our daily Idiom series — made to help you sound more natural in everyday English.
Today’s idiom is “The Ball is in Your Court.” Let’s learn what it means, when to use it, and see some quick examples.

Quick Summary

Idiom: The Ball is in Your Court
Meaning: It’s your turn to take action or make a decision.
Example: I’ve done my part — now the ball is in your court.

This idiom comes from the game of tennis or basketball. When the ball lands on your side of the court, it means it’s your turn to hit it back. Similarly in daily life also, it means the responsibility or decision is now yours. So, we say, “the ball is in your court.”

For example, if someone offers you a job and asks for your answer, they’ve already done their part — now you need to decide. That’s when we say, “The ball is in your court.”

10 Simple Examples of The Ball is in Your Court Idiom

1. I’ve already sent you all the details about the project. Riya, now the ball is in your court.
2. After explaining everything to my parents, I told them the ball is in their court to decide about the trip.
3. We’ve done all we can to fix the issue, Mr. Verma. The ball is in your court now to approve the final plan.
4. When Maya confessed her feelings to Raj, she smiled and said, “Now the ball is in your court.”
5. The teacher gave us the topic and guidelines — the ball is in our court to complete the presentation.
6. I’ve made my apology, and now the ball is in her court if she wants to forgive me.
7. The lawyer said he had submitted all the documents; the ball was now in the judge’s court.
8. The company made their offer — the ball is in your court if you want to accept or negotiate.
9. I’ve done my part of the house chores, so the ball is in your court to do the dishes!
10. After weeks of planning, the manager told his team, “We’ve prepared everything; the ball is in the client’s court now.”

Want to learn more idioms easily? Check out our Complete Guide to Everyday American Idioms—you’ll find more simple meanings, fun examples, and real-life practice!

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If you want to learn about all the American Idioms, then here is our best curated complete list of A-Z Idioms list in one place.