VOA朗读: Baseball terms: This is a whole new ballgame

 

Expressions from America's national pastime.

Now, the VOA Special English program, Words and Their Stories.

Baseball is America’s national sport. So it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball. But first, let me explain a little about the game.

Each baseball team has 9 players. The pitcher of one team throws the ball to a batter from the other team. The batter attempts to hit the ball. If he misses, it is called a strike. If a batter gets three strikes, he loses his turn at bat and is called out. The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air and an opposing player catches it. But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, the batter tries to run to one or more of the four bases on the field. The batter can run to all four bases if he hits the ball over the fence or out of the ballpark. Such a hit is called a home run.

Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. Someone who is on the ball is intelligent and able to do a good job. But a person who threw a curve ball did something unexpected. Someone who steps up to the plate is ready to do his or her job. A pinch hitter takes the place of someone else at a job or activity.

A person who strikes out or goes down swinging attempted something but failed. We also might tell the person that three strikes and you are out. But someone who hit a home run or hit it out of the park did something extremely well.

Sometimes I have to give information quickly, without time to think it over. Then I would say something right off the bat. If someone is doing an extremely good job and is very successful, you might say he or she is batting one thousand.

If I say I want to touch base with you, I will talk to you from time to time about something we plan to do. I might say I touched all the bases if I did what is necessary to complete a job or activity. And if I covered my bases I was well prepared. However, someone who is way off base did something wrong or maybe even dishonest or immoral. A person with strange ideas might be described as out in left field.

Let us say I want to sell my car but I do not know exactly how much it is worth. If someone asks me the price, I might give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate.

If someone offers me an amount that is close to my selling price, I might say the amount is in the ballpark. However, if I say we are not in the same ballpark, I mean we cannot agree because my ideas are too different from yours.

Finally, when a situation changes completely, we say that is a whole new ballgame.

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on the ball：机灵，有见识

threw a curve ball：戏弄或使人惊讶，提及出人意料的事

step up to the plate：开始行动

pinch hitter：代替者

go down swinging：光荣地失败，体面地下台

three strikes and you are out：三振出局。淘汰出局

hit a home run：（全垒打）全胜，漂亮一击

hit it out of the park：出色地完成某事

right off the bat：立即

batting one thousand：工作做得非常好,非常成功

touch base：把某一件事的情况告诉有关的人

touch all the bases：和所有有关的关键人物进行联系和沟通

cover my bases：准备好应付各种情况,面面俱到

out in left field：意见不合理，精神错乱

ballpark figure/ballpark figure：大概的数目

in the ballpark：大致正确的,八九不离十的

be not in the same ballpark: 对方的要求超出己方所能接受的范围

a whole new ballgame: 现在的情况与以前完全不一样