carry the ball

English

Verb

carry the ball (third-person singular simple present carries the ball, present participle carrying the ball, simple past and past participle carried the ball)

1. (idiomatic) To predominate in terms of responsibility, initiative, or progress.
   • 1985 August 17, Vincent F. Luti, “Ignore the Twaddle, Give, Give, Give”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 6, page 4:

     What is perhaps embarrassing to gay men is that women are making honest, gritty statements — carrying the balls, as it were — and producing very interesting gay writing, gay music, gay films, gay politics as (gulp) Lesbians.

See also

• ball carrier