carry the ball

Idioms

Take charge, advance a cause, as in In our lab any of the assistants can carry the ball. This usage comes from such sports as football, where the ball-carrying player gives the team yardage or a touchdown. By the early 1900s it was being transferred to other endeavors.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

With City's attackers waiting before dropping deep, City's defenders are able to carry the ball into the space that opens up.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Rookie Blake Corum, a third-round pick who did not carry the ball against the Lions, rushed for 28 yards in eight carries.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2024

Yes he was explosive, but he also possessed technique as well as vision and delighted with his ability to carry the ball in attack.

From BBC • Dec. 28, 2023

Expect to see more opportunities for Vaki next weekend at USC … because who wouldn’t want to carry the ball against USC?

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

This time, however, Francis did not carry the ball and on subsequent days maintained that the evidence for a TMV helix was only so-so.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023