Keep the ball rolling

Another popular expression in English is Keep the ball rolling which means to maintain activity and/or enthusiasm in a project.

This expression can be somewhat misleading because it may lead someone to believe that the phrase originated as a result of some kind of sport, like soccer.

However, this is not the case. The following will explain the context in which this phrase originated and how it is used.

Keep the Ball Rolling

The expression “keep the ball rolling” originated in the American presidential election race of 1840. As is the case with current presidential elections in the United States, the candidates in the 1840 election race used many creative tactics to get people to vote for them.

One tactic used by William Henry Harrison (who eventually became president) was to construct huge balls of tin and leather and roll them through each town during his campaign. This symbolized Harrison’s desire to remain active and enthusiastic in his pursuit of the American presidency. The expression soon became popular and is still used today in all kinds of contexts, not just politics. Here is an example:

Don’t quit now. If we want to finish the project, we have to keep the ball rolling.

Here is another example of how this expression is used:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/03/news/%E2%80%98keep-the-ball-rolling%E2%80%99-a-conversation-with-tyler-farrar_106650 (see title and 2^nd line of 4^th paragraph beside the bus picture)