Hello, and welcome to Authentic Real English . I’m Rob and join me today is lees.

Hi, everyone.  Er, Rob, my name is li, not lees.

Oh, oh, i’m so sorry Li. I’m not really on the ball this morning.

Nice phrase though. Why don’t you go for a coffee and then you will be on the ball for today’s Authentic Real English.

Right ho l lovely. That’s better. I had a nice cup of coffee and I’m ready to explain the meaning of today’s Authentic Real English.Here you go?When you are on the ball, it means you are alert and quick to react to things.

It comes from sports, doesn’t it?

Yes it does. And there is anther phrase, to keep your eye on the ball, which has a very similar meaning.

I guess we can use it for any situation which is changing quickly so you need to be focused and sharp.

Indeed let’s hear some examples

The interviewer raised tough questions, but Ma Yun was on the ball.

Financial management is not a job that everyone can do, you have to keep your eye on the ball at all times

And if you want to learn English well, you can stay on the ball with BBCukChina.com. Also bbcukchina.com/leaningEnglish. Best of luck!

Bye bye

Bye