# on the ball

Pronunciation: say "on thuh BAWL" US /ɑn ðə ˈbɔl/, UK /ɒn ðə ˈbɔːl/; AUS say "on-thuh-BAWL"

## Idiom

1. Alert, attentive, and quick to respond to what is happening around you.
   - Simple: Quick to notice things and ready to act.
   - _Our project manager stays on the ball, flagging risks long before they become problems._
   - _She was on the ball during the interview, answering every follow-up without hesitation._
2. In possession of and actively controlling the ball during play.
   - Simple: Having control of the ball during a game.
   - _The midfielder on the ball slowed the tempo to let his teammates push forward._
   - _Once she was on the ball near the box, the whole defense collapsed toward her._
3. Playing as a midfielder in Australian rules football, following the ball around the ground.
   - Simple: Playing in the middle of the field in Australian rules football.
   - _Starting on the ball, the young recruit gathered possessions all over the field._
   - _Veterans are often rested forward before being sent back on the ball late in the game._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/on-the-ball (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).