the ball is in your court
it's your turn to act or decide
In Spanish
it's your turn to act or decide
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.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
Practise speaking→