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get the ball rolling

to start something

In Idioms & Sayings

In more detail

(idiom) to start something or make something begin; to get something moving or in progress

Examples

• We need to get the ball rolling on this project before the deadline.

How to use get the ball rolling

This idiom is used when you want to begin a process, project, or activity, often implying momentum or getting past initial inertia. It is more casual and dynamic than formal alternatives like 'commence' or 'begin', and is commonly used in business, sports, and everyday contexts to suggest taking the first steps toward action.

Register: informal

Common phrases

• get the ball rolling on a project
• get the ball rolling with a meeting
• help get the ball rolling
• get the ball rolling immediately
• let's get the ball rolling

Synonyms

get started · kick off · launch · initiate · set in motion

Opposites

stop · halt · end

A common mistake

Learners sometimes overuse this phrase in very formal or academic writing where simpler verbs like 'start' or 'begin' would be more appropriate.

Nearby in Idioms & Sayings

easier said than done, elephant in the room, every cloud has a silver lining, go against the grain, hit the ground running, in the nick of time

Keep going

How to remember the words you read · Spaced repetition, explained