Definition of to drop the ball

drop the ball

verb

to fail in one's responsibilities.

Citation from "New Car", Up All Night (TV), Season 1 Episode 4 (2011) censored in hope of resolving Google's penalty against this site.
My commander dropped the ball as soon as he noticed the enemy at the horizon.
I dropped the ball and forgot to make dinner.
- See more words with the same meaning: to lose, be defeated, fail.
Last edited on Aug 11 2016. Submitted by Walter Rader (Editor) from Sacramento, CA, USA on Sep 21 2009.

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Related words

Slang terms with the same meaning

Other terms relating to 'to lose, be defeated, fail':
*look like a monkey fcking a football**	Definitions include: to perform terribly.
blow it	Definitions include: to completely fail a task.
grasp at straws	Definitions include: to make a futile attempt.
get schooled	Definitions include: See school.
take an l	Definitions include: "take a loss", i.e. to suffer a loss in a competition.
go tits-up	Definitions include: to fail.
whipping	Definitions include: a defeat.
jobber	Definitions include: a "professional wrestler" who loses matches so as to build up a featured wrestler's win/loss record and crowd appeal.
lost	Definitions include: to fail
get owned	Definitions include: See own.
do a number on	Definitions include: to do a poor job.
go belly up	Definitions include: to fail.
fail	Definitions include: an instance of failure.
*get (one's) ss handed to**	Definitions include: to be severely defeated.
buckle	Definitions include: to fail or err due to pressure.
(show 18 more)

Slang terms with the same root words

Other terms relating to 'ball':
amaze-balls	Definitions include: "amazing".
as balls	Definitions include: very.
baby balls	Definitions include: shaved testicles.
ball	Definitions include: to be successful.
ball and chain	Definitions include: significant other.
ball bag	Definitions include: testicles.
ball-breaker	Definitions include: a demanding superior.
ball fro	Definitions include: pubic hair that is kept in a style that compares to a microphone head.
balling	Definitions include: See ball; baller
ball on	Definitions include: to attempt to attract verbally; "hit on".
ball out	Definitions include: to leave.
ballpark figure	Definitions include: an estimate.
ball-park figure	Definitions include: a rough numerical estimate.
balls	Definitions include: exclamation of disappointment.
ball sack	Definitions include: the scrotum.
(show 57 more hide)
Other terms relating to 'drop':
at the drop of a hat	Definitions include: at any moment; without persuasion
DDG	Definitions include: acronym for "drop dead gorgeous".
DOL	Definitions include: acronym for "drop out loser".
don't drop the soap dawg	Definitions include: to be anally raped in jail.
drop	Definitions include: to take drugs, usually LSD ("acid") or Ecstasy (MDMA).
drop a beat	Definitions include: in music, to play a beat.
drop a bomb	Definitions include: to defecate; "poop".
drop a C-bomb	Definitions include: See C-bomb.
drop a chalupa	Definitions include: have a bowel movement.
drop a coil	Definitions include: to defecate. usually used in a mock-sensuous way or in a lighthearted manner.
drop a deuce	Definitions include: to defecate; "poop".
drop a dime	Definitions include: to inform the authorities (e.g. police) that someone was involved in a crime.
drop a dookie	Definitions include: to defecate; "poop".
drop a duce	Definitions include: misspelling of drop a deuce.
drop a fat lip	Definitions include: to place a large amount of dip (chewing tobacco) between one's cheek and jaw.
(show 39 more hide)
Other terms relating to 'the':
101 scoop, the	Definitions include: the real information or the proof, instruction, the know how, where, when, and why about something or someone.
2-10, the	Definitions include: walking, generally as opposed to driving.
3rd degree, the	Definitions include: interrogation.
3 sheets to the wind	Definitions include: extremely intoxicated
411, the	Definitions include: information.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.	Definitions include: something you have now is worth more than two things you have just a chance of getting.
about the size of it	Definitions include: a good estimate.
ace in the hole	Definitions include: a secret advantage.
across the board	Definitions include: inclusive.
add fuel to the fire	Definitions include: to make a bad situation worse.
against the clock	Definitions include: with the amount of time left to finish a task rapidly disappearing.
ahead of the curve	Definitions include: having an opinion or belief prior to it becoming common or popular.
aim Archie at the adamant	Definitions include: of a male, to urinate.
ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun	Definitions include: Someone being butthurt over having something, they do to others regularly, done to the them
a little on the side	Definitions include: secret sexual activity with a person other than one's partner.
(show 1409 more hide)

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