Common English Idioms Idiom: The ball is in your court Meaning: It is your turn to make a decision or take action. Origin: This idiom is derived from the game of tennis, which has two courts, from which the ball must be hit back to the other player. Examples: 1) "We've given you all the information you need to make a decision, so now the ball is in your court." 2) "After I sent my proposal to the team, the ball was in their court to decide whether to proceed with the project."