keep one's eye on the ball

Remain alert and attentive, as in The research director told her students to keep their eye on the ball when it came to accurate footnotes . This expression alludes to numerous sports in which players must watch a ball's path. [c. 1900]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Mikelo	mee-KE-lo	Esperanto
Bogdana	bawg-DAH-nah (Polish)	Polish, Russian, Slovene, Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian, Romanian, Medieval Slavic
Aldegonda	ahl-də-KHAWN-dah	Dutch
Yuuki	yoo:-kee	Japanese
Rebeckah	rə-BEK-ə	English (Rare)
Norah	NAWR-ə	Irish, English