VOA慢速英语2014 棒球术语

 

Baseball Terms 棒球术语

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 nine players.  The pitcher¹ of one team throws the ball to a batter² 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 curve³ ball did something unexpected⁴.  Someone who steps up to the plate is ready to do his or her job.  A pinch⁵ 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 immoral⁶.  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 estimate⁷. 

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.

1 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

2 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

3 curve   

n.曲线，弯曲，曲球；v.弯，使...弯曲

参考例句：

• The train slowed its speed as it went around the curve.火车在弯道行驶时放慢了速度。
• The path of an arrow is a curve.箭的轨迹是一条曲线。

4 unexpected   

adj.想不到的，意外的

参考例句：

• I always keep some good wine in for unexpected guests.我总保存些好酒，用来招待不速之客。
• His promotion was unexpected.他的升迁出人意料。

5 pinch   

n.捏，撮，困苦，偷窃；vt.掐，使...困苦，偷窃

参考例句：

• She would pinch on food in order to spend on clothing.她过去常把伙食费省下来买衣服。
• He put a pinch of salt on his food.他在自己的食物上撒了一撮盐。

6 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。

7 estimate   

n.估计，估量；评价，看法；vt.估计，估量

参考例句：

• We estimate the cost to be five thousand dollars.我们估计费用为5000美元。
• The lowest estimate would put the worth of the jewel at ＄200.按最低的评估这块宝石也值200美元。