Even if you aren’t a fan of baseball, you might be using baseball idioms every day without realizing it. Sayings from this popular American sport have spread through the English language around the world.
Before we get stuck into this list of expressions from and about baseball, be sure you understand what idioms are and why we use them as well.
Baseball idioms
A ballpark figure
Let’s start this list of baseball idioms with one that you may use in a business setting when discussing finances or other numbers.
If someone doesn’t know the exact value but gives you a well-thought-out estimation, this could be referred to as a ballpark figure.
“I’d say it will cost $200 to repair this pipe, but that’s just a ballpark figure.”
Hit and miss
Simply put, if something is hit and miss it may or may not work out well. It could be a success or a failure; the results are unpredictable. This could be because of poor planning.
“I’ll try my best to be there on time but it’s hit and miss with this traffic.”
“This whole workshop seems a bit hit and miss, if you ask me.”
Hit or miss is another version of this baseball idiom.
Throw someone a curveball
In sporting terms, a curveball occurs when the baseball is thrown with a strong downward spin which means it drops suddenly and veers off-centre. This makes it hard to hit!
Used as a baseball idiom, it refers to something unexpected that takes everyone by surprise, causing confusion and uncertainty.
“Well, that was quite a curveball. What should we do now?”
The phrase throw someone a curveball refers to the action of dealing this kind of surprise to someone.
“I thought I had my report finished but then the teacher threw me a curveball and I had to change some of it.”
Cover all bases
There are many aspects of day-to-day life in which you may need to cover all bases. This means considering every possibility and thinking through an action or task thoroughly.
“Ok team. Have we covered all bases for this event?”
A slight variation is to have all bases covered.
Knock it out of the park
If you hit the baseball so hard that it goes out of the baseball park then you have done really well and can score a home run.
So this is an example of a nice positive idiom: to knock it out of the park is to do something very well, perhaps exceeding expectations.
“That dance show was amazing. She really knocked it out of the park.”
Out of left field
The baseball-related term out of left field means suddenly or from an unexpected source or direction. It usually refers to something strange, unusual, or surprising.
“I wasn’t expecting any of those questions, they really came out of left field.”
Go to bat for someone
Here’s a lovely expression about supporting someone. When you go to bat for someone you are taking their side or defending them in a situation.
“It was so nice of Ben to go to bat for Steve.”
Major leagues / Minor leagues
Here is a pair of classic American idioms that you won’t hear much in other English-speaking countries.
Sporting teams are ranked in tables or groups (leagues) depending on how well they play. The top teams are ranked in the major leagues and lower-ranking ones, or teams with younger players, are in the minor leagues.
We can use these baseball idioms to refer to degrees of importance more generally.
Someone or something significant, important, successful, or powerful can be described as major-league or in the major leagues.
The opposite is true for someone or something described as minor-league or in the minor leagues – in fact, this could be used as an insult.
“Wow! I really feel like I’m in the major leagues now that I have been promoted.”
“Don’t waste your time with that minor-league guy. You should make friends with the right people.”
Out of your league
Another idiom about baseball leagues; if someone is out of your league you are paying them a compliment (or doing yourself a disservice). You are saying that one person is too good for another person in terms of their looks, intelligence, abilities, fame, wealth, etc.
“I would love to ask her out for a meal but to be honest I think she’s a little out of my league.”
“Are you kidding yourself? He’s way out of your league.”
This is one of many relationship idioms that you can use to talk about how well-matched a couple is. But do be aware that if you tell someone else that a person is out of their league, they may get offended.
Keep your eye on the ball
If you need to stay focused and pay close attention to something, you may be told to keep your eye on the ball.
“Mark, we are all counting on you to keep your eye on the ball today.”
Conversely, to take your eye off the ball is to lose focus or stop paying attention. In baseball, and in life more generally, this is a bad idea because you can miss opportunities that come your way.
“In this job you cannot afford to take your eye off the ball for even a minute.”
On the ball
This baseball idiom is similar in meaning to the one above, but used slightly differently. To be on the ball is to be ready, keen, attentive, and alert. A person like this is up-to-date with new ideas and quick to react to situations.
“This position requires someone who is really on the ball.”
Play ball
This phrase is traditionally shouted by the umpire as a signal to start a game of baseball.
As an idiom, though, play ball is an instruction to work well with others or willingly cooperate with them. It may also be a request for people to get along better.
“Come on team. Play ball or we’ll all be in trouble.”
This could be used as an idiom in the workplace, in another team environment, or even between family members.
Play hardball
If you need to get something done no matter what, then you may need to play hardball. It means acting firmly, ruthlessly, or harshly in order to succeed.
“Looks like she wants to play hardball with us.”
Off base
When someone is off base, they are wrong, mistaken, or misinformed about something.
“I can’t believe it. Jared was totally off base in that last meeting.”
Right off the bat
Right off the bat is an American expression meaning right now, without delay, or first thing.
“Right off the bat, I’d like to talk about the seating arrangements.”
You could use some sequencing transition words to express this in a more formal way.
Idioms about baseball
Step up to the plate
A person who steps up to the plate is willing to accept a challenge and take responsibility for what needs to be done. They are often the first to take action in a group.
“Come on Sue. Why don’t you step up to the plate and show us your presentation?”
Swing for the fences
Here’s an interesting idiom about baseball that is now often heard when talking about finance and investments.
When you swing for the fences in baseball, you put all your effort into your swing so as to try and hit a home run.
Likewise, in a more general idiomatic sense, it’s about putting a lot of effort into something and working hard for it, even if there is a chance you won’t succeed.
“Honestly, swing for the fences and you never know what will happen.”
This is similar in meaning to some motivational idioms like give it your best shot.
Hit a home run
There are plenty of positive baseball idioms and hit a home run is one of them. In a sporting sense, it means you hit the ball hard and far enough that you are able to run around the whole diamond back to the home base and score a run.
Idiomatically, it means to do something very successfully.
“We really hit a home run with that team presentation.”
You can find some more idioms with home themes here.
Three strikes and you’re out!
This expression comes directly from the rules of baseball. If you miss the ball (a strike) three times then you are ‘out’ of the game.
So when you hear three strikes and you’re out, it’s a warning that you only get three chances at something and that’s it. In a job setting, you may get fired, in school you may get a detention, and at home you may get grounded!
“We operate a strict ‘Three strikes and you’re out’ policy regarding uniform.”
You may wish to change this to ‘one strike and you’re out’ if you’re feeling particularly strict. You could also keep count by saying ‘that’s two strikes now’ and so on.
Touch base
This is an idiom about baseball that’s also a talking idiom. When you touch base with someone you speak to them for a short time, usually to catch up on something specific.
“Let’s touch base on that later.”
“I’ll work on this report tomorrow, then we can touch base on Thursday.”
Strike out
This phrasal verb can have a number of definitions. It may mean hitting someone. It may refer to beginning a journey of some kind, such as starting a business venture on your own. It also refers to erasing or crossing through something written.
But more commonly, to strike out means to fail to achieve the desired result.
“Now that I have some experience as a carpenter’s apprentice, I want to strike out on my own.”
“I think you should strike out that last line of the email.”
“I’ve been trying to build a rabbit hutch but I keep striking out.”
It’s hard to believe that there are so many baseball idioms used in everyday English (even if some are mainly confined to the US).
But there are even more sports idioms that come from other games, so why not take a look at those next?
