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take one's ball and go home. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
take one's ball and go home, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
take one's ball and go home in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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take one's ball and go home will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
take one's ball and go home, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From the image of a group of children playing a sport with a ball that is the exclusive property of one of the participants.
Verb
take one's ball and go home (third-person singular simple present takes one's ball and goes home, present participle taking one's ball and going home, simple past took one's ball and went home, past participle taken one's ball and gone home)
- (figuratively) To cease participating in an activity that has turned to one's disadvantage, especially out of spite, or in a way that prevents others from participating as well.
- 1978, "House Vote 13," In Common, Vol. 9, p. 52 (Google snippet view):
- In 1977 American auto industry leaders threatened to "take their ball and go home" by shutting down production of 1978 models unless they received yet a third delay in meeting the auto emission standards of the Clean Air Act.
2008 May 6, Andrew Ross Sorkin, “How Not to Make a Deal”, in New York Times, retrieved 6 May 2015:[F]aced with the choice of raising his bid by a dollar or two a share or making a hostile offer, Mr. Ballmer did neither. Instead, he took his ball and went home.
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