Baseball is a unique American institution that is reflected in many parts of American English. Here are just a few terms that have their roots in the game, culture, or folklore of baseball. Test yourself: which of these terms do you fully understand? How did they get their meaning from baseball?
Ball game
Ballpark
Ballpark figure
Bat an idea around
Batting average
Bronx cheer
Bush (adjective)- As in: That's bush.
Caught off base
Come out of left field
Cover all the bases
Designated - As in: The designated driver.
Farm out
Field (verb) - As in: To field questions.
Get to first base - As in: To get to first base with someone.
Go into extra innings
Go to bat for
Ground rules
Hardball tactics
Have a lot of clout
Have a lot on the ball
Have something on the ball
Have two strikes against you
In the ballpark
In there pitching - As in: To still be in there pitching.
Let's play ball
Major-league (adjective)
Make a hit
Minor-league (adjective)
Off at the crack of the bat
Off-base (adjective) - As in: That idea is totally off-base.
One down, two to go
On the ball - As in: To be on the ball.
On the fly - As in: To learn (eat, etc.) on the fly.
Out in left field
Out-of-bounds
Out of your league
Pinch hit
Pinch hitter
Play ball
Play hardball
Right off the bat
Right up your alley
Screwball
Southpaw
Strike out
Take a swing at something
Three strikes and you're out
Throw someone a curve
Touch all the bases
Touch base with someone
Two down, one to go
Whole new/other ball game
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