The ball is in your court — it is your turn to take action or make a decision. The responsibility has moved from one person to another, and now you must respond or act.
Origin & History
This idiom comes directly from the language of court sports, especially tennis. In tennis, when the ball is on your side of the net, it is your turn to play. The figurative use — meaning it is your turn to respond or decide — became widespread in English from the mid-20th century onwards.
It is especially popular in business and negotiation contexts, where one party completes their part and signals that the other must now act. The phrase appears frequently in business English textbooks and professional communication guides.
Example Sentences
| Sentence | Context |
|---|---|
| I've made my offer — the ball is in your court now. | Business negotiation |
| She sent him the first message; the ball is in his court. | Personal communication |
| We submitted the report on time. The ball is in their court. | Waiting for a response |
| I've done everything I can. The ball is in your court. | Passing responsibility |
| The government has proposed the deal — the ball is now in the union's court. | Labour negotiation |
Use It in Conversation
Dialogue Example
Mark: Have you heard back from the client about our proposal?
Sara: Not yet. We sent everything last week, so the ball is in their court now.
Mark: Fair enough. Let's give them a few more days before we follow up.
How to Use It
This idiom is typically used in the present tense ("the ball is in your court") to describe the current state of a situation. You can also use it to describe a past moment: "Once I sent the email, the ball was in her court." It works well with "now" for extra emphasis: "The ball is in your court now."
Common Mistakes
Mistakes to Avoid
The ball is at your court.
The ball is in your court. — Always use 'in', not 'at'.
A ball is in your court.
The ball is in your court. — The idiom uses 'the', not 'a'.