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

France then took off for home, but because Tovar quickly ran over to grab the ball and because France is not fast, there would have been a close play at the plate had Tovar not dropped the ball after picking it up. — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2026

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