摘要：keep the ball rolling 直接翻译就是“让球继续滚动”，引申义就是“继续进行某事"但是作为一个成语keep the ball rolling中的ball却是被用来比作一种活动、一个机构或团体的，所以其涵义是“keep the activity

keep the ball rolling 直接翻译就是“让球继续滚动”，引申义就是“继续进行某事"但是作为一个成语keep the ball rolling中的ball却是被用来比作一种活动、一个机构或团体的，所以其涵义是“keep the activity/ organization going” (让活动、事情、机构继续下去)：
For various reasons, quite a few members of the school drama group had quit; but somehow we managed to keep the ball rolling.
出于种种原因，学校戏剧社有不少成员离开了，但我们还是设法继续活动下去。

I put a word now and then to keep the ball rolling.

我时不时插入一两句话，使谈话不至于中断。
除了动词keep外，我们可以用start或set,/start / set /get the ball rolling，当然，意思不尽相同，它们的解释是“使某种活动开始或是使某一机构开始动作”：

I just want enough cash to start the ball rolling.

我只是想有足够的启动资金。

You need to make time for each other in order to get the ball rolling.

为了让爱情更加甜蜜，你们必须为对方留出时间。

As no one spoke, the teacher asked a few questions to start the ball rolling.
没有人发言，老师便提几个问题来启发大家。

When someone had set the ball rolling, everyone joined in the discussion.

一个人一提头儿，大家就议论起来了。

George started the ball rolling at the party by telling a new joke.

乔治讲了个笑话使晚会开始起来。

It took a few youthful and daring businessmen to get the ball rolling ．

需要几个年轻而勇敢的商人才能打开局面。

来源：翅膀英语