I want to be in control of the situation and if I can't then no one is going to be allowed to be happy about the outcome.
The expression comes from the playground where one kid, the one who owns the soccer
ball or basket
ball, doesn't get his way in the
game. If he doesn't get his way then he gets mad and punishes those who are unwilling to accept his mandate. He does this my taking his
ball and going home thus ending the
game and any fun the participants were having.
The expression "I'm going to take my
ball and go home" when directed at an individual is used to illustrate the individual's immaturity when that person can't get his way and no longer wants to be a participant in the conversation or a contributor to solving a problem.
Billy: "Its my solution or this meeting is over and I'm out of here. You guys will just have to
work this weekend without me to fix the problem."
Suzie: "
Billy sounds like a little brat who says: I'm going to take my ball and go home!"
