Life is like baseball: 20 idioms to know

You can't get any more American than this: a sport that was long considered our "national pastime" and whose yearly championship — played only between US teams — is rather pretentiously called
the World Series.

Although baseball had its heyday from 1900 to about 1950, it's still popular: 19 million people watched last year's championship between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Though long considered two of the very best teams in baseball, both were defeated just last week by the Texas Rangers and the San Francisco Giants — the teams playing in this year's World Series, which begins today.

The game

Here's how baseball works. A small, round ball is pitched (thrown) to a player of the other team, who has three chances to hit it with a bat. If he succeeds, he starts running while the first team tries to catch the ball. If he does not hit the ball, or if someone from the first team catches the ball or touches him with the ball when he is not on a base, he is "out". If the player can run to first, second and third base (mostly during the turns of batters after him), and then back to home plate (the starting position), his team gets a point.

Every time three players are out, the teams switch positions. Each team's turn in both places represents an inning; there are nine innings in a game. The bottom of the ninth, or final phase of the game, is the time when the pressure is greatest on both teams to win. This expression is often used metaphorically as well.

American English is full of sports metaphors that are used regularly in business meetings, political rallies, TV shows and even church services. You'll need to know them in order to understand how Americans think. No sport offers as many expressions as baseball, so this is a great time for a quick lesson!

The metaphors

When life gives you the opportunity you've long been waiting for, you get your turn at bat. You must then step up to the plate (face the challenge when you are called). Try to forget your own batting average (record of success and failure). Remember: three strikes and you're out — you only ever get three chances. If you strike out, you've failed.

The least you must do is touch base (take the first step and get in contact). If you can score a home run, you will have convinced everyone of your proposal. With a lot of skill and luck, you may even hit it out of the ballpark (be wildly successful). Do that and you'll get to play in the big leagues (be among the top players and biggest earners) and maybe even make it to the hall of fame (be one of the all-time best).

It helps to be a team player (someone who works well with others). Sometimes you'll have to take one for the team (make a sacrifice in order to help others). So be careful not to be off-base (be mistaken) or be out in left field (be eccentric or crazy).

The other team may try to play hardball (be ruthless), so do your best when you make your pitch (present your proposal). You may find it's a whole new ball game (the rules or parameters have changed). You may even be out of your league (be attempting things beyond your ability). If that happens, you should probably take your bat and ball and go home (quit).

*See also: 10 expressions from American football