Keep the ball rolling
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Maintain momentum by causing an activity, discussion, plan, or process to continue rather than stall or stop. Informal but suitable in many professional contexts. It emphasizes continuity and momentum rather than the initial launch of an activity. Regional use: General English; strongly documented in American political history.
Origin
The metaphor draws on the obvious need to keep a moving ball in motion, but it acquired a memorable American political setting in William Henry Harrison's 1840 presidential campaign. Supporters rolled huge campaign balls from town to town, and slogans urged them to keep the ball rolling. The Library of Congress documents that practice and surviving campaign artifacts. Related British expressions about keeping a ball up were older, so the campaign should be described as a major vehicle for the American phrase, not necessarily its first imaginable use.
Research Sources
Variants
- Keep things rolling
- Keep this ball rolling
Usage Examples
- I have drafted the first section; can you keep the ball rolling while I am away?
- A second grant kept things rolling through the winter.
- The moderator asked a new question whenever the discussion slowed, keeping the ball rolling.