17 Baseball Idioms in English with Meanings and Examples • 7ESL

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Baseball idioms have woven themselves into the fabric of American English, painting colorful expressions across our daily conversations. Whether we’re stepping up to the plate in a business meeting or pitching ideas to a group of colleagues, these phrases hit home for many of us, even if we’re not avid fans of the sport. Our language is peppered with these idioms, which have origins in the game of baseball, a pastime deeply ingrained in our culture.

What Are Baseball Idioms?

Baseball idioms are expressions borrowed from the sport of baseball that we often use in everyday language to describe situations that aren’t related to the game itself. They’re like little pieces of Americana that have found a home in our day-to-day conversations. Here’s a little about why they’re special:

Commonality: Baseball is known as America’s pastime, so it’s no wonder that terms from the sport have permeated our language, connecting with a wide range of people.
Figurative Language: These idioms are a set of figurative language that taps into baseball’s descriptive terms. We use them to express complex ideas in a relatable way.
Cultural Reflection: They reflect our culture’s history and love for the game, illustrating how sports can influence more than just the field of play.

For instance, when we say someone has “struck out,” we mean they’ve failed at something. But in baseball, it literally means the batter missed three pitches and is out. Similarly, “hitting a home run” in a non-baseball context means achieving great success, much like a player scoring a run by hitting the ball out of the park.

17 Baseball Idioms in English (with Meanings and Examples)

Here’s a quick rundown of some baseball idioms you might recognize:

Touch Base: To make contact with someone.
Out of Left Field: Something unexpected.
Ballpark Figure: An estimated number.
Go to Bat for Someone: To support or stand up for someone.

List of Baseball Idioms With Meanings and Example Sentences

Idioms	Meanings and Example Sentences
Out of left field	Something unexpected or unusual. Example: “His decision to suddenly move to Spain really came out of left field.”
Step up to the plate	To take responsibility for something. Example: “It’s time for someone to step up to the plate* and lead the project.”*
Hit a home run	To be very successful in an endeavor. Example: “She really hit a home run* with that presentation—it impressed everyone.”*
Touch base	To make contact with someone. Example: “I’ll touch base* with you next week to discuss the details.”*
Off base	Incorrect or mistaken. Example: “His assumptions about the market were completely off base.”
In the ballpark	Within a certain range; close to a target or estimate. Example: “Your estimate is in the ballpark, but we need to get the exact numbers.”
Swing for the fences	To attempt something with a lot of effort or ambition. Example: “He’s really swinging for the fences* with his new business idea.”*
Strike out	To fail at something. Example: “He struck out* with his attempt to convince the board.”*
Cover all the bases	To consider all aspects or contingencies. Example: “We need to cover all the bases* before launching the product.”*
Throw a curveball	To do something surprising or unexpected that may cause difficulties. Example: “The new policy really threw a curveball* at us.”*
Play hardball	To act aggressively or ruthlessly in order to achieve one’s objectives. Example: “When it comes to negotiations, he always plays hardball.”
On deck	Next in line or turn to participate. Example: “You’re on deck* for the next presentation, so be prepared.”*
Out of the park	To exceed expectations; to do something exceptionally well. Example: “Her innovative approach knocked the project out of the park.”

Popular Baseball Idioms

Hitting It Out of the Park

“Hitting it out of the park” is a phrase we often use to describe a home run that’s not just over the fence, but gone entirely out of the stadium. In baseball, this is a moment of triumph for the batter, and it’s a clear sign of skill and power.

But beyond the diamond, we’ve adopted this phrase into our daily language to mean achieving great success or doing something exceptionally well. For example, if our colleague gives an incredible presentation, we might say they “hit it out of the park.”

Here’s a table illustrating the phrase’s adaptability across different contexts:

Context	Usage Example
Sports	“Did you see that hit? It went right out of the park!”
Business	“Our team hit it out of the park with the last quarter’s sales.”
Personal Life	“You really hit it out of the park with your birthday surprise!”

Bat a Thousand

In the world of baseball, when we say a player is “batting a thousand,” we’re talking about perfection in hitting. It’s based on the average system of baseball statistics, where a .300 average is considered good, and a .400 is outstanding. So, a .1000—hitting successfully every time at bat—is a hypothetical ideal.

Usage: Often used to describe success in activities outside of baseball

Examples:

If you get every question right on a test, you’re “batting a thousand.”
When every dish you cook gets rave reviews, you might say you’re “batting a thousand” in the kitchen.

Touch Base

In baseball, the term “touch base” refers to a player making contact with a base before they can be declared safe. In a conversational context, we use this phrase when we talk about checking in with someone or updating them on a situation. Here’s why we use this idiom and how you might encounter it:

Usage: When we say we need to “touch base” with a colleague or a friend, we mean that we need to reach out for a quick update or discussion.

Here’s a simple example of how we might use it in a work context:

Situation	Usage Example
Setting a meeting	“Let’s touch base at the meeting tomorrow.”
Asking for an update	“Can we touch base about the project status?”
Quick check-in	“I’ll touch base with you after the weekend.”

Ballpark Figure

When we talk about a “ballpark figure,” we’re not just referring to a number related to sports statistics. It’s a term we use in everyday language to estimate or give a rough idea of a value when exact numbers are not necessary or available. The expression conjures the image of a baseball park, suggesting the number is “in the playing field” but not specific.

Usage: We might use it during negotiations or early planning stages.

Example:

“Our renovation costs are around $10,000—a ballpark figure until we get the final quotes.”
“Can you give me a ballpark figure of how much the home renovation will cost before we commit to the project?”

Step Up to the Plate

The phrase “Step up to the plate” typically serves as a motivational call for someone to rise to the challenge or assume responsibility in a given scenario. This common phrase has its roots in America’s favorite pastime: baseball.

In baseball, when it’s a player’s turn to bat, they literally step up to the home plate. The moment is theirs, and it’s their chance to make a significant contribution to the game.

We see this idiom used across various scenarios:

Context	Usage Example
Work	“We need to step up to the plate and finish this project on time.”
Personal Growth	“It’s time I stepped up to the plate and worked on my skills.”
Team Sports	“The team is counting on you to step up to the plate during the finals.“

Hit a Home Run

In baseball, when we say someone “hit a home run,” it’s a moment of triumph. It means the batter struck the ball and sent it over the outfield fence. We’ve metaphorically adopted this phrase in our everyday language to indicate a significant success or achievement, something that’s very well done.

Usage:

In Business: Closing a major deal
In School: Acing a difficult exam
Personal Life: A perfect date

Examples:

“With that presentation to the investors, Jasmine really hit a home run.”
“We hit a home run with our new product launch, the response has been incredible!”

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Jim Manheim

Jim Manheim is a highly skilled writer, editor, and teacher from Michigan, with a wealth of experience and expertise in the English language, including slang and idioms. He is widely recognized as a word geek and a music enthusiast, as well as a grammar and writing expert, with a passion for language that shines through in his work.