on the ball, be

Also, have something on the ball. Be especially capable or efficient, as in These programmers really have a lot on the ball. This term originated in baseball, where it was used for throwing a pitch with exceptional speed, spin, or some other deceptive motion. [Slang; early 1900s]

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Lizzie	['lizi]
Idoya	ee-DHOI-ah	Spanish
Beatrix	BE-ah-triks (German), BAY-ah-triks (Dutch), BEE-ə-triks (English)	German, Hungarian, Dutch, English (Rare), Late Roman
Hesiod	HES-ee-əd (English), HEE-see-əd (English)	Ancient Greek (Anglicized)
Cecelia	sə-SEE-lee-ə, sə-SEEL-yə	English
Heledd	HEL-edh	Welsh