It may be an abbreviated form of the phrase keep your eye on the ball, which admonishes the player to pay close attention and get things done. For the source, we need to look to early ball games. About twenty years ago, I was working for my step-dad's engineering firm. Tennis – Keeping Your Eyes on the Ball Posted: July 22, 2010 in Uncategorized. I told him that I didn't know what to do. You gotta keep your eye on the ball. A flag waver. The slang word / phrase / acronym keep (one's) eyes on the ball means... . Another word for on the ball. The high calling; the upward, heavenward calling.God is calling us all upward, heavenward, by the voice of the Lord Jesus, who is the Word of God. Verse 14. A list of slang words and phrases, idioms, jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations. lends … This phrase originated in sports, specifically in ball games where the players were asked to keep their "eyes on the ball". The first preposition, "towards," expresses the aim; the second, "unto," the end of the race. Eye. 0. The idiom on the ball most probably comes from a sport involving a ball, but which sport is up for debate. take your eye off the ball definition: 1. to not give your attention to what you are doing at the time: 2. to not give your attention to…. Find more ways to say on the ball, along with related words, antonyms and example phrases at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Rhode Island. It is a contraction of the earlier expression 'keep your eye on the ball', which advice has been given to participants in virtually every known ball game. The current usage of the phrase began in the 1900s. Ball. You’re built too low. figurative (be attentive, alert) mantenerse alerta v prnl + adj mf : estar alerta v cop + adj mf keep your eye on the ball, keep an eye on the ball, have your eye on the ball v expr verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end." I keep pitching them and you keep missing them. Eye ball. Fast ones go over your head. The phrase 'on the ball' did actually originate in the sporting arena, but relates to the eyes rather than the feet. Games have been lost because a player cannot do this. (Henery is irritated and walks in circles) Foghorn Leghorn: You got a hole in your glub. Turn a Blind Eye to Someone or Something . It is commonly used in (and originates from) the game of baseball, to imply that players need to watch where the ball is at all times. On the ball describes someone who is efficient, someone who is talented, someone who is effective and can get things done. He said, "My grandfather always told me: 'Keep your eye on the ball.'" Online Slang Dictionary. - I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; rather, with the best manuscripts, unto the prize. Deadlines all around, I was paralyzed. His ability to keep his eye on the ball assured his eventual success. I said, "Sure, but what if there is… This phrase, borrowed from the popular game of pool (aka: billiards, eight ball, etc.) One of the most important things that you will ever hear when you are playing tennis is to keep your eyes on the ball. Red, White and Blue – that’s a joke son. Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net No matter if you’re a pool aficionado or not, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “Keep your eye on the eight ball”. This Slang page is designed to explain what the meaning of keep (one's) eyes on the ball is. Keep your eye on the ball is an informal way of telling someone to pay attention to a situation. Learn more. 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