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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

get the ball rolling en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic, informal) To begin; to start some action; to set in motion.
    • Did you ever get the ball rolling on your plans to build a shed?
    • The execution of Littlefinger is formal, although his trial admittedly gives us ample opportunity to appreciate the tables finally turning on the man who got the ball rolling on all this bloodshed. 2017 August 27, Brandon Nowalk, “Game Of Thrones slows down for the longest, and best, episode of the season (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club:
    • I knew who you were as a [RuPaul's] Drag Race fan. So I was gagged personally and I still am gagged, but it was quite divine intervention. Thom Kerr, the photographer, really got the ball rolling and I had no idea what to expect of this shoot besides greatness. 2024 May 10, Justin Moran, quoting Isaac Dunbar, “Isaac Dunbar and Kerri Colby Were Built for This”, in Paper:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
got the ball rolling Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part UK lexicographic
got the ball rolling Tense=Past lexicographic
gotten the ball rolling Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part US lexicographic
gets the ball rolling Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic
getting the ball rolling Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic

Relateds

keep the ball rolling

Synonyms

start the ball rolling · set the ball rolling