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Now, the VOA Special English program |
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WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. |
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Baseball is America's national sport. |
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So it is not unusual that many popular expressions |
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come from baseball. |
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But first, let me explain a little about the game. |
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Each baseball team has nine players. |
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The pitcher of one team throws the ball |
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to a batter from the other team. |
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The batter attempts to hit the ball. |
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If he misses, it is called a strike. |
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If a batter gets three strikes, |
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he loses his turn at bat and is called out. |
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The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air |
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and an opposing player catches it. |
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But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, |
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the batter tries to run to one |
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or more of the four bases on the field. |
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The batter can run to all four bases |
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if he hits the ball over the fence or out of the ballpark. |
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Such a hit is called a home run. |
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Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. |
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Someone who is on the ball is intelligent |
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and able to do a good job. |
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But a person who threw a curve ball did something unexpected. |
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Someone who steps up to the plate is ready to do his or her job. |
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A pinch hitter takes the place of someone else at a job or activity. |
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A person who strikes out or goes down swinging |
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attempted something but failed. |
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We also might tell the person that three strikes and you are out. |
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But someone who hit a home run |
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or hit it out of the park did something extremely well. |
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Sometimes I have to give information quickly, |
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without time to think it over. |
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Then I would say something right off the bat. |
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If someone is doing an extremely good job and is very successful, |
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you might say he or she is batting one thousand. |
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If I say I want to touch base with you, |
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I will talk to you from time to time about something we plan to do. |
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I might say I touched all the bases |
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if I did what is necessary to complete a job or activity. |
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And if I covered my bases I was well prepared. |
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However, someone who is way off base did something wrong |
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or maybe even dishonest or immoral. |
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A person with strange ideas might be described as out in left field. |
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Let us say I want to sell my car |
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but I do not know exactly how much it is worth. |
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If someone asks me the price, |
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I might give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate. |
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If someone offers me an amount that is close to my selling price, |
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I might say the amount is in the ballpark. |
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However, if I say we are not in the same ballpark, |
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I mean we cannot agree because my ideas are too different from yours. |
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Finally, when a situation changes completely, |
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we say that is a whole new ballgame. |
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This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, |
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was written by Shelley Gollust. |
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I'm Faith Lapidus. |
