Meaning
Put the responsibility on someone else.
Cultural Background
Egyptians are obsessed with football (Al-Ahly vs. Zamalek). You will hear this idiom constantly in talk shows and daily life, often with a very dramatic flair. In the Gulf, this idiom is frequently used in high-stakes business negotiations and diplomacy. It is considered a polite way to end a meeting while leaving the next step clear. In the Levant, people might use 'Alqā' (ألقى) more often than 'Ramā' in slightly more formal social settings. Due to French influence, the phrasing might sometimes mirror the French 'dans ton camp', but the standard Arabic version is perfectly understood.
Suffix Power
Mastering the suffixes (-ka, -ki, -hi, -hā) is the key to making this idiom sound natural. Practice them separately!
Don't be too aggressive
In some cultures, saying 'the ball is in your court' can sound like you are rushing someone. Use a soft tone.
Meaning
Put the responsibility on someone else.
Suffix Power
Mastering the suffixes (-ka, -ki, -hi, -hā) is the key to making this idiom sound natural. Practice them separately!
Don't be too aggressive
In some cultures, saying 'the ball is in your court' can sound like you are rushing someone. Use a soft tone.
The 'Alqa' Variant
Use 'Alqā' (ألقى) in emails to sound more professional and 'Ramā' (رمى) in speech.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'field' with the suffix for 'you' (masculine).
أَنَا فَعَلْتُ مَا عَلَيَّ، الكُرَةُ الآنَ فِي ________.
Since the speaker says 'I did what I had to do', they are addressing 'you', so 'mal'abika' is correct.
What does the phrase 'رَمَى الكُرَةَ فِي مَلْعَبِهِ' mean in a business meeting?
The manager says: 'رَمَيْتُ الكُرَةَ فِي مَلْعَبِ المُحَاسِبِ'. What happened?
The idiom is used to delegate tasks or responsibility.
Complete the dialogue.
أَحْمَد: هَلْ سَيُوَافِقُ المُدِيرُ عَلَى طَلَبِكَ؟ خَالِد: لَا أَعْرِفُ، لَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ الطَّلَبَ وَالآنَ ________.
Khalid submitted the request, so the decision is now with the manager (him).
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesأَنَا فَعَلْتُ مَا عَلَيَّ، الكُرَةُ الآنَ فِي ________.
Since the speaker says 'I did what I had to do', they are addressing 'you', so 'mal'abika' is correct.
The manager says: 'رَمَيْتُ الكُرَةَ فِي مَلْعَبِ المُحَاسِبِ'. What happened?
The idiom is used to delegate tasks or responsibility.
أَحْمَد: هَلْ سَيُوَافِقُ المُدِيرُ عَلَى طَلَبِكَ؟ خَالِد: لَا أَعْرِفُ، لَقَدْ قَدَّمْتُ الطَّلَبَ وَالآنَ ________.
Khalid submitted the request, so the decision is now with the manager (him).
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! Just change the ending to -him (their): 'الكُرَةُ فِي مَلْعَبِهِمْ'.
Not if used correctly. It's a factual statement about who needs to take the next step. Just avoid sounding impatient.
It is 'Ramāt' (رَمَتْ). For example: 'هِيَ رَمَتِ الكُرَةَ فِي مَلْعَبِهِ'.
Literally, yes. But in this idiom, it represents the other person's 'territory' or 'domain of responsibility'.
Yes: 'الكُرَةُ فِي مَلْعَبِي'. It means 'It's my turn to decide/act'.
No, this is a modern idiom. The Quran uses different metaphors for responsibility.
Yes, 'kora' is the general word for ball (football, basketball, tennis ball).
In Egypt, they say 'El-kora f mal'abak' (الكورة في ملعبك).
You wouldn't usually say that. You would say 'أَنْتَظِرُ رَدَّهُ' (I am waiting for his reply).
Extremely common, especially in political analysis sections.
Related Phrases
أَلْقَى بِالمَسْؤُولِيَّةِ عَلَى
synonymTo throw the responsibility onto...
جَاءَ دَوْرُكَ
similarIt's your turn.
غَسَلَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ
contrastTo wash one's hands of something.
وَضَعَ النِّقَاطَ عَلَى الحُرُوفِ
builds onTo clarify everything (put the dots on the letters).
