[00:00.00]Now, the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. [00:21.19]Baseball is America's national sport. [00:28.67]So it is not unusual that many popular expressions come from baseball. [00:32.89]But first, let me explain a little about the game. [00:39.59]Each baseball team has nine players. The pitcher of one team [00:43.72]throws the ball to a batter from the other team. [00:48.75]The batter attempts to hit the ball. If he misses, [00:54.12]it is called a strike. If a batter gets three strikes, [00:58.53]he loses his turn at bat and is called out. [01:03.85]The batter also is out if he hits the ball in the air [01:07.00]and an opposing player catches it. [01:12.22]But if the batter hits the ball and it is not caught, [01:20.36]the batter tries to run to one or more of the four bases on the field. [01:24.59]The batter can run to all four bases [01:29.80]if he hits the ball over the fence or out of the ballpark. [01:33.32]Such a hit is called a home run. [01:39.12]Now, here are some common expressions from baseball. [01:46.32]Someone who is on the ball is intelligent and able to do a good job. [01:52.59]But a person who threw a curve ball did something unexpected. [01:59.10]Someone who steps up to the plate is ready to do his or her job. [02:05.88]A pinch hitter takes the place of someone else at a job or activity. [02:11.41]A person who strikes out or goes down swinging [02:16.83]attempted something but failed. We also might tell the person [02:20.31]that three strikes and you are out. [02:26.43]But someone who hit a home run or hit it out of the park [02:29.24]did something extremely well. [02:33.95]Sometimes I have to give information quickly, [02:36.70]without time to think it over. [02:40.94]Then I would say something right off the bat. [02:47.22]If someone is doing an extremely good job and is very successful, [02:51.88]you might say he or she is batting one thousand. [02:56.34]If I say I want to touch base with you, [03:02.01]I will talk to you from time to time about something we plan to do. [03:06.17]I might say I touched all the bases [03:11.29]if I did what is necessary to complete a job or activity. [03:16.55]And if I covered my bases I was well prepared. [03:22.07]However, someone who is way off base did something wrong [03:25.97]or maybe even dishonest or immoral. [03:33.05]A person with strange ideas might be described as out in left field. [03:42.83]Let us say I want to sell my car but I do not know exactly how much it is worth. [03:45.80]If someone asks me the price, [03:51.57]I might give a ballpark figure or a ballpark estimate. [03:57.84]If someone offers me an amount that is close to my selling price, [04:01.90]I might say the amount is in the ballpark. [04:07.34]However, if I say we are not in the same ballpark, [04:14.11]I mean we cannot agree because my ideas are too different from yours. [04:18.63]Finally, when a situation changes completely, [04:23.09]we say that is a whole new ballgame. [04:44.86]This VOA Special English program, WORDS AND THEIR STORIES, [04:49.28]was written by Shelley Gollust. I'm Faith Lapidus

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