took one's eye off the ball
Stopped paying attention
To take one's eye off the ball is to lose focus on what matters most, allowing something important to slip or go wrong.
From sports where watching the ball is essential: The company took its eye off the ball and lost market share to competitors.
The phrase implies negligence through distraction rather than inability.
- asleep at the wheelFailing to supervise properly
- blunderFoolish, costly mistake
- distractionThing diverting one's attention
- attention spanConcentration time limit
- absent-mindednessPreoccupied inattention to surroundings
caught napping · lapse · fumbled · misstep · preoccupation · carelessness · negligence · oversight · daydreaming · inattentiveness · slip-up · mental lapse · missed the mark · missed opportunity · focus · concentration · failure · faux pas
attention and vigilance
took one's eye off the ballkept one's eye on the ball
Maintained focus on priorities
paid attention · kept watch · watched like a hawk · doubled down · persevered