take one's ball and go home

== English == === Alternative forms === take one's bat and ball and go home, take one's football and go home === Etymology === From the image of a group of children playing a sport with a ball that is the exclusive property of one of the participants. === Verb === take one's ball and go home (third-person singular simple present takes one's ball and goes home, present participle taking one's ball and going home, simple past took one's ball and went home, past participle taken one's ball and gone home) (informal, idiomatic) To cease participating in an activity that has turned to one's disadvantage, especially out of spite, or in a way that prevents others from participating as well. 1978, "House Vote 13," In Common, Vol. 9, p. 52 (Google snippet view): In 1977 American auto industry leaders threatened to "take their ball and go home" by shutting down production of 1978 models unless they received yet a third delay in meeting the auto emission standards of the Clean Air Act. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== dog in the manger