on the ball
Alert, active, or attentive; on top of things.
If I had been more on the ball I would have asked when he called me.
ADJ
good, great, superb | bad, loose
high, low
The goalkeeper caught the low ball just before it crossed the goal line.
long, short | quick, slow
cross, through
The striker received a perfect through ball and scored easily from ten yards out.
hand
The goalkeeper was sent off for deliberately handling the ball with her hands.
VERB + BALL
play, send
pick up, pounce on, punish
The striker punished a defensive mistake by scoring from a difficult ball.
PREP
~ from
The goalkeeper caught an excellent ball from the striker near the goal line.
ADJ
tight
fiery
The fireworks exploded into a fiery ball that lit up the entire night sky.
crystal | cannon, musket
VERB + BALL
curl/roll (up) into
When the cat got scared, it rolled itself into a tight ball under the bed.
form/make sth into, roll/screw sth (up) into, shape sth into
She rolled the dough into a ball before putting it in the oven.
PHRASES
a ball of fire/flame, a ball of string/wool
PHRASES
a ball and chain
His job felt like a ball and chain, keeping him from pursuing his dreams.
ADJ
college, charity, hunt