open the ball

English

Etymology

In reference to the start of dancing at a ball.

Verb

open the ball (third-person singular simple present opens the ball, present participle opening the ball, simple past and past participle opened the ball)

1. To begin operations; to set things in motion.
   • 1908, The Standard, volume 62, page 553:

     This is "commencement week" in "over-the-counter insurance" circles, the Whitman, Mass., savings bank having opened the ball with four applications made for $300 each by three prominent business men […]

Translations

begin operations

• Finnish: pistää pyörät pyörimään, aloittaa (fi)
• French: ouvrir le bal (fr), ouvrir la danse
• Polish: rozpoczynać (pl) impf, rozpocząć (pl) pf