‘The Ball Is In Your Court’: Definition, Meaning and Examples

Did someone say to you, 'The ball is in your court,' and you’re wondering what it means? In this article, we’ll take a look at the meaning, origin, examples, and more.

In short:

• ‘The ball is in your court’ is an idiom that comes from the sport of tennis. When someone tells you that ‘the ball is in your court,’ they’re saying that it’s your turn to take action or make a decision.

Essentially, they’re saying that what happens next in a given situation is your responsibility.

What Does 'The Ball Is In Your Court' Mean?

‘The ball is in your court’ is an idiom that means that it’s someone’s responsibility (in this case, your responsibility) to do something.

Essentially, when ‘the ball is in someone’s court,’ it means:

• That the ‘someone’ being described is the individual that has to make the next move or decision.

‘Your’ is a possessive pronoun, meaning that it shows ownership over something. You can change the possessive pronoun to reflect the context of the situation.

For example, you might say:

‘The ball is in his court’ or ‘The ball is in their court.’

Where Does 'The Ball Is In Your Court' Come From?

According to a number of different sources, ‘the ball is in your court,’ as a popular idiom, comes from the sport of tennis.

• In tennis, when the tennis ball is on a player’s side of the court, it’s their turn to make a move.

Historical Usage of 'The Ball Is In Your Court'

Using the Google Books Ngram Viewer, we see that 'the ball is in your court' only starts showing up in publications starting in the early 1940s. Around the mix 1960s, it became a much more commonly used phrase.

In the transcripts of the Hearings before the United States Joint Economic Committee from April 11 and 13, 1978, we find the phrase ‘the ball is in your court’ used in relation to Congress needing to take action:

“My understanding is that voluntarily the regulators are not going to do that. It will literally take an act of Congress. The ball is in your court.”

The phrase is also used in the Hearings Before the Committee on Public Works at the United States Senate from June of 1971:

“Now, I believe so strongly in this aspect of human relations that I hope you will emphasize the problems that came to your attention and will not be afraid to step on toes. We are not looking for criticism, but if there are things we need to do better, we don’t want to go back to Washington without hearing them. Now, the ball is in your court, Father.”

Finally, one more example can be found in another government document from January of 1970 in hearings regarding disaster relief and public works:

Congressman Colmer, the ball is in your court, and we are privileged to have you represent not only yourself, but our two distinguished colleagues from Mississippi who have been very helpful from the outset following Camille.

Examples of 'The Ball Is In Your Court' In Sentences

How would 'the ball is in your court' be used in a sentence?

Let’s take a look at some examples:

• “I feel so bad for Drew that he feels lonely, but the truth is that the ball is in his court. I know that many people have reached out to him, and he always pushes them away.”
• “She thought it was pretty weird when he said, “The ball is in your court.” To the best of her knowledge, the decision isn’t hers to make.”
• “The tables have turned finally. For so long, it was on my shoulders to push this project forward. Now, the ball is in his court.”
• “It’s pretty nerve-wracking to know that the ball is in my court. I’ve never been solely responsible for such a large undertaking before.”
• “When it comes to getting fit and strong, the ball is in your court. No matter how often I tell you “no pain, no gain,” ultimately, you have to be the one that does the work.”
• I hope you get a taste of your own medicine this time around. Everyone has been picking up the slack for you time and time again. Now, the ball is in your court. If you fail, there won’t be anyone there to take the blame.”
• “I chose where we went out to dinner last week. This time, the ball is in your court!”
• “Johnny is sick as a dog right now, and he can’t help out. You’re on your own, and the ball is in your court, my friend.”
• “There’s nothing we can do to change the situation– it’s up to the big boss to make the changes necessary to save the company. The ball is in their court; all we can do is wait and see what happens.”

Final Thoughts About 'The Ball Is In Your Court'

‘The ball is in your court’ is an idiom that means that it’s your time to make a move or a decision. Basically, it’s a way to tell someone that the responsibility to move something forward is in their hands. You can change the possessive pronoun in order to fit the context of the statement, such as saying, ‘The ball is in his court’ or ‘The ball is in my court.’

Are you ready to learn more English phrases and expand your vocabulary? Be sure to check out our idioms blog for idioms, expressions, sayings, and more!