Conundrums: Baseball Idioms

Whether you dig baseball or not, there’s no denying it’s left a significant mark on our culture (and language). And so, since summer is here and the sport is in full swing (pun intended), we figured we’d highlight some of our favorite idioms based on America’s pastime—along with an example for each. So grab a beer and a hot dog, and check out nine common baseball-inspired expressions—one for each inning. Play ball!

“In the ballpark”
Sure, we might have missed the runway by a few feet, but hey, at least we were in the ballpark.

“Whole new ballgame”
Paula usually remained calm under pressure. But coming face-to-face with a mob of knife-wielding evil clowns was a whole new ballgame.

“Batting a thousand”
That makes three customers with food poisoning this week. So far, we’re really batting a thousand.

“Knock it out of the park”
Dr. Patel wasn’t much of a public speaker, but when the other podiatrists all stood up and cheered, “Bun-ions! Bun-ions!” he knew this time, he’d clearly knocked it out of the park.

“Rain check”
Thanks for the invitation to go skinny-dipping with you and your grandparents, Bob, but I think I’ll take a rain check.

“Touch base”
Sorry, I’m extremely busy these days. Let’s touch base in about twelve years.

“Throw a curve ball”
Liz had planned to visit the garden store on her way home from work, but the sudden zombie apocalypse really threw her a curve ball.

“Out in left field”
Normally, Simon was a pretty levelheaded guy. But this time, his idea to quit his job to start a unicorn ranch was definitely out in left field.

“Step up to the plate”
After years of claiming to have a highly contagious skin disease, Samantha finally decided it was time to step up to the plate and meet her ex-boyfriend for coffee.