“Drop the ball” means to fail at a task or responsibility. It likely grew from sports, where a dropped ball can spoil an important play.

“Throw in the towel” began in boxing, where a trainer stopped a fight by tossing a towel into the ring. Now it means to give up.

Beside means next to. Besides means in addition to, or except for. Here is how to choose the right one with clear examples.

“Meander” began as the name of the Maeander River, known for its bends, and later came to mean a winding path or indirect speech.

“Move the goalposts” began as a sports image. Today it means changing the target or standards after someone has already met them.