the ball is in your court
it's your turn to act or decide
In Spanish
la pelota está en tu tejado
Examples
- I've made my offer; now the ball is in your court.
- After sending the proposal, the ball is in their court to respond.
- I've given you all the information, so now the ball is in your court.
When it's used
This idiom is used in both formal and informal situations to indicate that it is someone else's turn to act or make a decision. It is commonly used in everyday speech as well as in professional contexts. It is not regional and is widely understood.
The common mistake
A common mistake is to say 'the ball is in your roof', calqued from the Spanish 'la pelota está en tu tejado'. This is not English and does not convey the intended meaning.