on the ball

phrase

1

: competent, knowledgeable, alert

… the other introductory essay … is much more on the ball.

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

keep on the ball

2

: of ability or competence

… if the teacher has something on the ball, the pupils won't squirm much …

—New Yorker

Examples of on the ball in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Albies is an excellent contact hitter, putting the bat on the ball, and driving the ball to the gaps. — Bernie Pleskoff, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026

But most importantly, Gakpo will make that forward run into the penalty area, gamble on the ball reaching him at the back post, and get into promising positions with more frequency than most wingers do. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Catcher Daniel Susac pounced on the ball and delivered a perfect strike to second base. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 21 July 2026

Rhymes for on the ball

• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol
• cannonball
• carbinol
• cortisol
• ethanol
• fireball
• gasohol
• gossypol