On the Ball
What it means
Alert and competent, noticing things before anyone has to point them out to you.
Where it comes from
It probably comes from ball games, where keeping your eye on the ball is the entire instruction. Which sport gave it to us is not settled, with baseball and cricket both claimed.
The puzzle it came from
On the Ball was the answer to the Phrasicle of August 9, 2025. The clue read On the ____, and the words came out of a grid where every neighbouring pair makes a two-word phrase.
Play today's Phrasicle Play the August 9, 2025 puzzle
Show the solved grid (this spoils the August 9, 2025 puzzle)
dinner
buffet
table
saw
dust
rock
salt
mine
field
trip
safety
first
love
life
jacket
school
lunch
meat
ball
pit
Phrasicle: On the Ball