20100424 Let's Talk Baseball (2)

Let's Talk Baseball

Baseball doesn't just stay in the ballpark. Many terms derived from baseball have come into everyday use by people who have never seen a pitcher throw a pitch. "Right off the bat," I'd say there are hundreds of terms - but that's just a "ballpark figure." When things are going right and you're successful, you're "batting a thousand." But all too often, you "strike out" at something no matter how "on the ball" You are. When you want to be successful, it is imperative that you "keep your eye on the ball" and make sure you're not "out in left field."


With any project, you need to "step up to the plate" before you commence. But you also need to be sure that you're not "out of your league" and that you know the "ground rules." when you want to support a friend, you "go to bat" for them when they need help. When you can't meet with a friend, you "take a rain check" and promise to "touch base" at a later time. So when learning English, it's inevitable that you'll learn a few baseball idioms. You just have to "play ball"!





//== More Information ==//

American English is loaded with baseball idioms. Here are just a few Right off the bat means at the very beginning. Ballpark figure is a great way to talk about a general number rather than an exact one. Keeping your eye on the ball means to pay careful attention to what you are doing. And To touch base means to talk to someone about something.