Word meaning on the ball

Дословный перевод on the ball – на мяче.
Смысловое значение – быстро реагировать, соображать; быть умным, осведомленным, компетентным.

I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m not really on the ball today. – Я плохо спал прошлой ночью, так что сегодня я медленно соображаю.

I wouldn’t have hired my brother if he wasn’t completely on the ball. – Я бы не нанял на работу своего брата, если бы он не был полностью компетентен.

on the ball
on the ball

*

Словосочетания

on the ball — амер.; разг. расторопный; толковый
be on the ball — быть на высоте; волочь
get on the ball — быть готовым ко всяким неожиданностям
have on the ball — обладать способностями; обладать ловкостью; обладать талантом
get on the ball! — амер. скорей!, пошевеливайся!
something on the ball — сл. способности, достоинства; умение соображать; ≅ винтики работают
keep eyes on the ball — не упускать из виду основной цели; быть расторопным; быть настороже
have a lot on the ball — обладать способностями; обладать ловкостью; обладать талантом
her typing is on the ball — она отлично печатает
keep your eye on the ball — не упускать из виду основной цели; быть внимательным

turn on the balls of both feet — поворот на носках
to keep one’s eyes on the ball — амер. а) быть расторопным; знать своё дело; б) быть на высоте /«на уровне»/
to have smth. /a lot/ on the ball — сл. обладать способностями, ловкостью, талантом; быть ловким
bolt-on drawbar ball — сфера дышла на болте
mounted on ball bearings — смонтированный в шарикоподшипниках; установленный в шарикоподшипниках
the dimples on a golf ball — углубления / ямочки на мяче для гольфа
to put a lot of spin on a ball — сильно «закрутить» мяч (теннис)

ещё 7 примеров свернуть

Автоматический перевод

на мяч, на шаре, на шарике, на балу, на пульсе, по мячу, с мячом

Перевод по словам

on  — на, по, о, в, об, согласно, левая сторона
ball  — мяч, шар, бал, шарик, удар, шаровой, свивать, свиваться

Примеры

She put spin on the ball.

Она придала мячу вращение. / Она закрутила мяч.

He stood on the balls of his feet

Он стоял на носочках

We better get on the ball. *

Надо действовать проворнее.

He’s very much on the ball. *

Он парень не промах.

He sure has a lot on the ball. *

Он очень способный парень.

That writer is really on the ball. *

Это отличный писатель.

FBI agents were very much on the ball. *

Агенты ФБР оказались на высоте.

ещё 9 примеров свернуть

Примеры, отмеченные *, могут содержать сленг и разговорные фразы.

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

The bowler put a sideways spin on the ball.  

Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке , напротив примера.

Last Update: Jan 03, 2023

This is a question our experts keep getting from time to time. Now, we have got the complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested!


Asked by: Mr. Ulices Hagenes

Score: 4.9/5
(40 votes)

phrase. If someone is on the ball, they are very alert and aware of what is happening. She really is on the ball; she’s bought houses at auctions so she knows what she’s doing.

What is the origin and meaning of the idiom on the ball?

According to Paul Dickson’s «New Dickson’s Baseball Dictionary», the phrase originated in the early 20th century U.S. in the sport of baseball, where a pitcher who dominated and successfully manipulated the opposing batters was said to «have» or «be putting» a lot «on the ball,» possibly referring to spin or other …

What is the idiom of a ball in a sentence?

: to have fun : to spend time in a very enjoyable way Everyone had a ball at the party.

What does not on the ball mean?

to be quick to understand and react to things: I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m not really on the ball today.

What’s another word for on the ball?

On-the-ball synonyms

(Idiomatic) attentive, active, busy. Attentive; awake; on guard.

15 related questions found

What is the opposite of ball?

▲ Opposite of to form or shape into a ball. unroll. expand. open.

What do you call an observant person?

1 perceptive. 2 attentive, heedful, mindful, aware. 3 obedient.

What does the idiom When Pigs Fly mean?

US, informal. —used to say that one thinks that something will never happen The train station will be renovated when pigs fly.

What does the idiom straight from the horse’s mouth mean?

From a reliable source, on the best authority. For example, I have it from the horse’s mouth that he plans to retire next month. Also put as straight from the horse’s mouth, this expression alludes to examining a horse’s teeth to determine its age and hence its worth. [

What is the meaning of the idiom cutting corners?

Do something in the easiest or least expensive way; also, act illegally. For example, Cutting corners in production led to a definite loss in product quality, or If the accountant cuts corners the auditors are sure to find out.

Have the balls to say meaning?

If you say that someone has balls, you mean that they have courage. To work on this show you’ve got to have balls. I never had the balls to do anything like this. You can say ‘balls’ or say that what someone says is balls when you think that it is stupid or wrong.

What is the idioms of once in a blue moon?

To do something “once in a blue moon” is to do it very rarely: “That company puts on a good performance only once in a blue moon.” The phrase refers to the appearance of a second full moon within a calendar month, which actually happens about every thirty-two months.

What is the meaning of idiom hang in there?

American Idiom: hang in there

Hang in there means to persist in a difficult situation or never give up.

What does the idiom face the music mean?

To accept unpleasant consequences: “After several years of cheating his employer, the embezzler finally had to face the music.”

What is the origin of the idiom have a ball?

Where does have a ball come from? The first records of the phrase have a ball come from around 1879. It comes from American slang. The word ball is used in the sense of a fancy party with dancing, such as the one attended by Cinderella.

What is the idiom get out of hand?

to become difficult to control: It was the end of term and the children were getting a little out of hand.

What is a horses mouth called?

Muzzle: The area of the horse’s head that includes the mouth and nostrils.

What does I have a bone to pick with you mean?

Having a “bone to pick with someone” means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: “I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night.”

Why do they say never look a gift horse in the mouth?

The reason is because a horse’s age can be determined by inspecting its teeth. Basically, the longer the teeth, the older the horse. Thus, looking a gift horse in the mouth could be considered rude because the person is essentially examining the horse to see how old it is—it might so old that they don’t even want it.

What does Foot in Mouth mean?

Say something foolish, embarrassing, or tactless. For example, Jane put her foot in her mouth when she called him by her first husband’s name. This notion is sometimes put as having foot-in-mouth disease, as in He has a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease, always making some tactless remark.

Why does Pink Floyd use a pig?

In the album’s three parts, «Dogs», «Pigs» and «Sheep», pigs represent the people whom Roger Waters considers to be at the top of the social ladder, the ones with wealth and power; they also manipulate the rest of society and encourage them to be viciously competitive and cut-throat, so the pigs can remain powerful.

What does zip your lip mean?

US, informal. : to stop talking immediately Tell your sister to zip her lip!

What is a perspicacious person?

adjective. having keen mental perception and understanding; discerning: to exhibit perspicacious judgment.

What is another word for unobservant?

In this page you can discover 15 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for unobservant, like: unseeing, astigmatic, blind, heedless, impercipient, inattentive, incurious, careless, mindless, unconcerned and unheeding.

Is being observant a good thing?

They have more keenly-developed comprehension and critical thinking skills. … One of the biggest benefits to being so observant is that, according to Social-Psychiatry.com, all of that brain exercise strengthens the neural pathways in the brain, resulting in better reading comprehension and reading speed.

Are you the type of person to be on the ball with things, or are you a hot mess like me? I find most people are one or the other. Being on the ball doesn’t just mean you’re good at things; it can actually be used in many ways. So, let’s explore what its true meaning is and how you can use it.

What Does “on the Ball” Mean?

On the Ball Idiom Origin Meaning

On the ball, meaning alert, efficient, and quick to respond to something, is a term often used to show when someone is capable and overly competent. It can also mean being well-prepared or being aware of what’s happening around you. Here, let me give you some context.

“Can you make me a list of groceries we need?” She asked.

“Already did it,” I replied and handed her the list.

“Wow! You’re on the ball!”

Is “on the Ball” an Idiom?

Yes, definitely! “On the ball” is considered an idiom in the English language because idioms don’t have a literal meaning; in this case, you’re not actually on top of a ball.

“On the Ball” Origin and Etymology

The root of the phrase “on the ball” comes from sports and ball games; when you think about it, it’s a no-brainer.

It goes back to the early days of baseball and how people would tell the batter to “keep their eye on the ball” if they wanted to hit it. So, eventually, the phrase “on the ball” became one you’d use to show that you’re hitting the mark on something.

But some people state that the saying “on the ball,” “be on the ball,” and “get on the ball” all come from Webb C. Ball, a watchmaker from the 1800s who invented the timing system for railroads to keep trains on track and on time.

Synonyms for “on the Ball”

  • Quick-witted
  • Sharp
  • Alert
  • Competent
  • Efficient
  • Skilled
  • Knowledgeable
  • Prepared
  • Aware
  • Smarty-pants
  • Keen
  • Responsive

Sentence Examples Using “on the Ball”

On the Ball Idiom Origin Meaning 1

  • The new manager is really on the ball and has already made a big difference in the productivity around the office.
  • I’m on the ball! I’ve got all the food prepped and ready for lunchtime five minutes early!
  • My mom was always on the ball and never missed dinner, a sports game, or a concert of mine while I was growing up, and she still managed to work two jobs.
  • Dad is always on the ball with birthdays and special events; he never misses a thing.
  • My old science teacher was always on the ball and never missed an opportunity to challenge us with live experiments in class.
  • I’m always on the ball during exams and show up prepared. 
  • Samantha is my favorite person to work shifts with because she’s always on the ball and keeps things running so smoothly.
  • My husband is definitely always on the ball with current events because he watches the news and YouTube all day long.
  • I need you to be on the ball with this next project, okay? You can’t miss the deadlines.

Always Be on the Ball

That’s all I have to tell you about this sports-related phrase. It’s pretty simple when it comes down to it. So, any time you want to express the fact that someone is doing a good job or is ahead of the game (also another sports-related phrase), you can say they’re on the ball.

on the ball

Attentive, knowledgeable, and quick to take action. I’m so glad that my assistant is always on the ball because I’m too scatterbrained to manage my schedule on my own. I can’t believe Molly got that report done so quickly—she’s really on the ball.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

on the ball

Inf. knowledgeable; competent; attentive. (See also have something on the ball.) This guy is really on the ball. If you were on the ball, this wouldn’t have happened.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

on the ball

If someone is on the ball, they are alert and deal with things quickly and intelligently. Some clubs struggle to raise money. A few are on the ball and make a professional job of it. I need to be on the ball with the Deputy Prime Minister visiting. Note: In football, the player who is on the ball has the ball at their feet and is in control of it.

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

on the ball

alert to new ideas, methods, and trends. informal

1998 Romesh Gunesekera Sandglass It’s big business now, you know. You have to be on the ball: go, go, go all the time.

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

on the ball

mod. knowledgeable; competent; attentive. (see also have a lot on the ball.) If you were on the ball, this wouldn’t have happened.

McGraw-Hill’s Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

on the ball

Informal

1. Alert, competent, or efficient: a teacher who is really on the ball.

2. Relating to qualities, such as competence, skill, or knowledge, that are necessary for success: a manager who has a lot on the ball; a student who has nothing on the ball.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

on the ball

Efficient and/or effective. This American colloquialism is believed to come from baseball, where the pitcher who puts spin or speed on the ball is apt to strike out more batters. It was being transferred to mean any kind of competence by 1912, when an article in Collier’s stated, “He’s got nothing on the ball.”

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer

See also:

  • (I’m) (so) glad you could come
  • (it’s) good to hear your voice
  • be at a disadvantage
  • at a disadvantage
  • address comments or remarks to
  • address (one’s) comments to (someone or something)
  • address (one’s) remarks to (someone or something)
  • at the point of (doing something)
  • be (as) serious as a heart attack
  • (the) odds are against (something)

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