“the ball is in sb's court”的词源直接源于网球、排球等隔网对抗性运动——比赛中，球越过球网落在对方场地（court）内时，规则要求“对方必须在球落地次数限制内回击”，否则失分。这一“球在谁场地，谁就必须行动”的运动规则，直接抽象为短语的核心语义:“主动权在某人手中，该某人做出回应、采取行动或做决定了, 下一步就看某人的了，轮到某人行动/回应”，强调“前一环节已完成，当前行动权转移至某人，对方需接续推进”。该短语为中性表达，可用于口语与书面语（正式度高于“play ball”“pull one's chain”等俚语），无褒贬色彩，核心特征是“行动权的明确归属”——不强调“责任”，仅强调“轮到谁行动或回应”。如：

The student has submitted his application for the scholarship, and the ball is in the teacher’s court to review it.

学生已提交奖学金申请，现在该老师审核了（主动权在老师手上）。

The government has put forward a new policy, and now the ball is in the opposition’s court to respond.

政府已提出新政策，现在该反对党做出回应了（主动权在反对党手上）。

We’ve sent our price offer to the client, and the ball is in their court to accept or negotiate.

我们已向客户发送报价，现在该他们决定接受或协商了（主动权在他们手上）。

I told her I liked her, and now the ball is in her court—she can choose to say yes or no.

我告诉她我喜欢她，现在主动权在她手上了——她可以选择答应或拒绝。

He asked me out for dinner next Friday, and the ball is in my court to reply.

他约我下周五吃晚饭，现在该我回复了（主动权在我这儿）。

We’ve talked about getting married, and now the ball is in his court to propose.

我们已经谈过结婚的事了，现在该他求婚了（主动权在他手上）。

The two countries have drafted a trade agreement, and the ball is in Country A’s court to sign it.

两国已拟定贸易协议草案，现在该A国签署了（主动权在A国手上）。

The rebel group has offered a ceasefire, and now the ball is in the army’s court to agree.

叛军已提出停火，现在该军队决定是否同意了（主动权在军队手上）。

We’ve given the governor our terms, and the ball is in his court. If he refuses, we move to Plan

He’ll agree—he has no choice.

我们已向州长提出条件，现在主动权在他手上。如果他拒绝，我们就启动B计划。

他会同意的——他别无选择。《纸牌屋》

I offered to help mymate with his math homework, and now the ball is in his court—he can call me whenever he’s ready.（2023年上海中考英语）

我已主动要帮助我的同学数学家庭作业了，何时求助就看他的了。

2025年考研英语二（翻译题第46题）

After we finished the first phase of the project, the ball was in the client’s court to provide the necessary materials for the next phase.

我们完成项目第一阶段后，就该客户提供下一阶段所需材料了（主动权在客户手上）。