Synonyms of dropped the ball

dropped the ball

phrase

past tense of drop the ball

as in fumbled

to make a mistake

I'm so sorry I dropped the ball and forgot to buy the wine for the dinner party.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fumbled
• stumbled
• slipped up
• tripped
• laid an egg
• screwed up
• fouled up
• blundered
• goofed (up)
• erred
• messed (up)
• nodded
• fluffed
• flubbed
• loused up
• misunderstood
• boobed
• mistook
• murdered
• mangled
• botched
• bungled
• misjudged
• foozled
• butchered
• muffed
• misconceived
• miscalculated
• misgauged
• misinterpreted
• mishandled
• misdeemed
• misconstrued
• bobbled
• miscounted
• miscued

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of dropped the ball

With one out and one on, Romy Gonzalez hit a hard ground ball to shortstop Francisco Lindor, who dropped the ball before losing his footing completely and falling into the dirt. — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 12 July 2026