ESL Vocabulary: Baseball Idioms
Baseball is one of the popular sports in the world. It has captured the hearts of many. From its beginnings as a simple game of “rounders” in English towns, the game baseball evolved to become one the favorite sports around the world. This shared passion for the sport allows many people to get together to celebrate the triumphs of their respective teams as well as the triumphs of the game itself. One the major event in the world of baseball is the World Baseball Classics. This brings together teams and followers of baseball teams from all over the world.
One of the countries that have representation in the World Baseball Classics is Korea. In 1905, an American missionary named introduced baseball in Korea. It quickly became a friendly past time among schoolchildren and soon its following grew. Because of the popularity that it gained among children in particular, baseball was used to uplift the morale and strengthen the solidarity of the country after its independence. When the sport reached its peak, Koreans decided that it was time to form a professional league, not only for the sake of the players but of the fans as well.
On December 1981, the first meeting regarding the formation of the professional Korean league was held. Six teams were formed – . March of the following year, the nation celebrated the first game of professional baseball held in Korea.
Due the great following of baseball, it is inevitable that the fans form their own culture in the process. The formation of their own sub-culture is natural since they can easily understand each other in terms of baseball. They know the rules of the game, which makes them familiar to the words being used during the games. However, baseball fans are not confined inside baseball parks. They do have lives outside baseball. They go to work or school, which means they interact with other people who do not necessarily share their enthusiasm with the game. Through these interactions, baseball fans somehow managed to pass on pieces of their subculture onto others.
One of the pieces that were passed onto others was the baseball terminologies. However, when the terminologies were passed their meanings were retained but they were started to be used on daily conversation. Thus, many of the baseball terminologies became idioms being used in the English language.
Since many of the baseball idioms are now being used in daily conversations, it is important that students of the English language become familiar with their actual meanings in the English language so that they can be used accordingly. One way that can be used to study or teach the meanings and uses of these idioms is to relate them to their origins. This means that watching baseball games or listening to comments during games will be helpful in understanding the idioms. This is also a fun way of learning the language especially for foreign students who are actually interested in sports as well.
List of Idioms derived from Baseball
Quiz:
Matching type: Write the letter of the correct answer.
_____1. Jenna thought the tuna weighed a ton.
_____2. The other team wishes to collaborate with us.
_____3. Mark was rude when he was talking to Jane.
_____4. The NBA players are playing against the local kids.
_____5. Marie told me she will go with me to the prom then she changed her mind.
_____6. Sara won the Bring Me game over John.
_____7. Joan gave to charity.
_____8. The dress is too expensive.
_____9. I did not study last night so I failed the exam today.
_____10. Odette competes hard with Cassy.
To strike out
To play ball
To make a ball park figure
To throw a curve ball
To play hard ball
Off base
No win situation
Pitch
fast ball
out of the ball park
Fill in the Blanks. Provide the most appropriate idiom.
The school nurse is on vacation so Ms. Lewis will __________ for her.
The character of the Tree is a __________ role in the play.
The president of the company is the __________ player.
Jose is __________ so he will not be able to participate with the activity.
I __________ when I blanked out during the final exam.
For let us __________ and do the meeting next Monday.
Now that the Jerry finished college, it is a __________.
Mary is prepared to do the speech so she _________.
Olivia’s __________ because he has the looks and brains needed to win the pageant.
If Sonia can __________next week on her science project she will win a blue ribbon.
minor league
drop the ball
take a rain check
bases are loaded
new ball game
pinchhit
major league
stepped up the plate
out in the left field
get to home
Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com
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