Whiteisms
The Archive

Etymology Journal · K

Keep the ball rolling

Meaning

To maintain the momentum of an ongoing project or conversation. It is an urge to avoid pauses and keep the progress steady.

Motivating, energetic

Used in a sentence

  • We have made great progress today, let’s keep the ball rolling.
  • Someone needs to keep the ball rolling in this meeting or we will never leave.
  • If we keep the ball rolling, we will finish the renovation by Friday.

The backstory

This is a late 18th-century expression. It is said to have originated from the act of rolling a large ball, which is difficult to start but easy to keep moving once it gathers speed.

Heard in

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