gaau1 go3 bo1 bei2 nei5交個波俾你交个波俾你
Definition
To pass the ball to you; to hand over a task or responsibility, leaving it up to you to take action.
How it's used
This phrase is a direct metaphor from sports, specifically football, used to describe shifting responsibility or tasks to someone else. It carries a slightly informal tone and is frequently used in workplace settings to signal that a project or duty is now someone else's concern. It implies a clean handoff where the speaker is stepping back and the recipient is expected to take charge.
Examples
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with literally passing a ball in a game, as the metaphorical use is very common in office politics or daily life. Using it too casually with a superior might sound like you are shirking your duties rather than delegating, so gauge the context carefully.
Grammar color guide
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
