Bat is one of many, many words in English that can be a noun or a verb.
noun
An implement with a handle and a solid surface, usually of wood, used for hitting the ball in games such as baseball, cricket, and table tennis.
verb (bats, batting, batted)
- take in turns the role of hitting rather than fielding: Ruth came to bat in the fifth inning.
- hit at (someone or something) with the palm of one’s hand: he batted the flies away.
3 sayings using “bat”:
bat a thousand (US informal)
be very successful; achieve perfection: With the tortellini, I batted a thousand—both kids had seconds.
right off the bat (North American)
At the very beginning: I managed to have a disagreement with him right off the bat.
bat around (also British bat about)
informal discuss an idea or proposal casually or idly: we bat around a wide variety of issues; ideas for another movie are being batted about.
(New Oxford American Dictionary online
Fun things to do
It’s baseball season in America. Here are some baseball terms. See which ones you know by matching the term on the left with the proper definition on the right.
a) Ace __A substitute hitter in baseball and softball
b) Hot Corner __A team plays two games in a row
c) Balk __Term used to describe a hard, line-drive base hit
d) Bull pen __Third base
e) Cup of Coffee __An illegal move performed by the pitcher before he or she pitches the ball
f) Clean up Hitter __A person who can fill any position.
g) Fly Ball __Unlawful pitch in which the ball is coated with saliva, grease, or other such substance, causing the ball to react unpredictably
h) Pinch Hitter __Best starting batter
i) Squeeze Play __An offensive strategy where a team tries to score a runner from third base on a bunt
j) Zinger __The batter who bats fourth in the batting order because they tend to provide the most power and they usually hit the most home runs and extra base hits
k) Bottom __The second half of the inning
l) Double Header __The area where a pitcher and batter warm up before a game
m) Spit Ball __Any batted ball that is hit very high into the air. It can be in fair or foul territory, with the fielder trying to catch the ball before it hits the ground to make an out
n) Utility Player __A person who comes up to a Major League from a Minor league, but doesn’t make it and returns to the Minor League
Sources: (sportslingo.com) (baseball.epicsports.com)
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