ThumbPRO Baseball Knocks It Out of the Park with These 27 Baseball Idioms
Right off the bat, you should know this article will be hit or miss. I may not hit it out of the park but be assured I am swinging for the fences.
Okay, that’s a little dramatic. I just wanted to introduce you to some baseball idioms.
What’s an idiom?
Idioms are expressions or sayings borrowed from one walk of life and used metaphorically in another.
Baseball idioms became an integral part of the American lexicon through the popularity and familiarity of baseball. Colorful and humorous, these phrases liven up everyday conversation and literature.
They are so common that you probably use or hear them without thinking about baseball.
But before we give you 27 baseball idioms to use in your daily conversation, some guidelines must be put into play.
Incorporating Baseball Idioms into Your Daily Conversations
Although we encourage using baseball idioms, there is a subtle art to employing them without sounding punny. So here are a few tips to remember when using these expressions.
· Understand the Meaning: Before eagerly swinging away, ensure you fully understand the meaning and usage of the idiom. Then, to avoid confusion, use it in the proper context.
· Pick and Choose Your Spots: Using too many idioms may detract from your overall message.
· Know Your Audience: Not everyone knows baseball and its idioms. So, if you must stop to explain the expressions, the conversation is better off without them.
· Have Fun and experiment with Them: Baseball idioms add humor and personality to your vocabulary. And with the game evolving daily, there will be plenty of opportunities to add more baseball idioms to our shortlist.
Introducing baseball idioms to your vernacular makes your words more engaging and entertaining. And now that we’ve covered the bases, you’ll be ready to step up to the plate and swing away.
Enough with the ground rules. Here are some of the Baseball idioms most often used.
25 Baseball Expressions Used in Everyday Life
1. Home Run / Hit it out of the park – To be successful. “The wedding planner hit a home run with this venue.”
2. Grand Slam – The ultimate success. “ThumbPRO Baseball Thumb Guard hit a grand slam with their baseball thumb guard.”
3. Ballpark figure – An estimate. “Just give me a ballpark figure to work with.”
4. Go to bat for – To stick your neck out to support someone, kind of like a pinch hitter would. “Good friends will always go to bat for you.”
5. Major League – The highest rank. “That movie has a bunch of major league actors.”
6. Curve ball (Throwing a curve) – A surprise or something unexpected. “The professor really threw us a curveball with the questions on the exam.”
7. Touch base – To contact someone or reconnect with them. “I just wanted to touch base with you before going on vacation.”
8. Step up to the plate – To take on a challenge or your turn to be counted on. “We need someone to step up to the plate and take charge of this project.”
9. Out in left field / Out of left field – an unexpected or unusual idea. “His views are way out in left field, but at least he’s interesting.”
10. On deck – Next in line. “After this project, I have a few more on deck.”
11. Reach first base – Completing the first step to a bigger goal. “Negotiations were tough, and both sides were elated to reach first base.”
12. Rain check – Cannot accept an invitation to do something now but would like to do that same activity in the future. “I’m too busy to go to the movies. I’ll have to take a rain check.”
13. Batting a thousand – To be successful every time. “He’s batting a thousand with every business he has started.”
14. Eye on the ball – To be focused. “You need to keep your eye on the ball as the deadline approaches.”
15. Off base – On the wrong track, or just plain wrong. “You are way off base if you think you can pass the test without studying.”
16. Out of your league – On a higher level than you are currently. “Don’t bother applying for that job, it’s out of your league.”
17. Play ball – To agree to work with someone cooperatively. “The senator refused to play ball with the journalists.”
18. Play hardball – To be aggressive or give it your all without holding back. “The lawyer is nice but willing to play hardball when needed.”
19. Softball – Something easy. “The press kept serving up softball questions to the president.”
20. Swing for the fences – Trying your hardest to succeed or trying to hit a home run. “Sometimes, you must swing for the fences to accomplish great things.”
21. Swing away – To take your chance at something. “If you feel the time is right, swing away.”
22. Box score – Collection of statistics to show production or outcome. “The mayor pointed to his box score as he campaigned for reelection.”
23. Three strikes and you’re out – System used, where you are given three chances to get it right. “Many states implement three strikes and you’re out policies.”
24. Strike (against) – A mark on your record. Usually, three of these incidents will result in a more significant penalty. “That speeding ticket will be the first strike on my driving record.”
25. Two strikes against you – To be in a difficult situation. No room for another mistake. “That’s two strikes against you. Your next infraction will be grounds for termination.”
26. Hit or miss – sometimes good and sometimes bad. “The service at that restaurant is hit or miss.”
27. Right off the bat – From the first moment. “Right off the bat, I knew she was the one.”
Baseball has a language that has leaked from the ballfield to every corner of the world. As proof, these idioms can be heard everywhere, from classrooms to the business world and even into politics.
So there you have it, 27 baseball expressions you can use today. Now it’s your turn to step up to the plate and knock it out of the park!
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