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You are here: Home / Language / What does the saying “to carry the ball” mean and Where does it come from?

What does the saying “to carry the ball” mean and Where does it come from?

August 4, 2020 by Karen Hill

The saying “to carry the ball” means to be responsible; to be in charge.

The allusion is to the American game of football, to the player to whom, on a given play, the ball is assigned.

Transference from literal to figurative usage became, at first, commercial lingo probably around 1925.

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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