right off the bat

Hi,

It's an American expression related to the baseball game,when the baseball is hit by the bat.

Savvy

Yes, it means "immediately".

The ball runs fast when the ball is hit by the bat.

Logic: fast -> immediately ?

Can someone (a native speaker preferred) confirm?

Thanks,

The origin's gotta be baseball, Meantolearn. What else is there--those eyeless, flying rodents?

'Right off the bat' = the instant the ball is propelled when whacked by the bat, and the first moment of the complete trajectory that follows.

That's interesting. I've always taken it as a cricketing metaphor...

MrP

MrP,

As far as I'm concerned, cricketing is something done entomologically.

chirp... chirp, chirp.........chirp...chirp, chirp, chirp...

The flying (but not eyeless) rodents will take care of those annoying crickets!

Hi,

I wondered about this myself recently. I wasn't able to find an authoritative definition for its origin and meaning, but my conclusion was as follows.

Cricket and Baseball shared a common heritage, until Baseball branched off to become what it is today. For this reason the expression probably refers to both games. Both games require that each team not only has to bat but als

AnonymousHi,

I wondered about this myself recently. I wasn't able to find an authoritative definition for its origin and meaning, but my conclusion was as follows.

Cricket and Baseball shared a common heritage, until Baseball branched off to become what it is today. For this reason the expression probably refers to both games. Both games require that ea

Bats are not rodents. They are more closely related to primates than rodents.