ball game

ball game
1. any game played with a ball, esp. baseball or softball.
2. Informal. a situation and all its attendant circumstances: Having a new administration in power changes the entire ball game at city hall. Cf. new ball game.
3. Archaeol. a ceremonial game of both ritual and sporting significance, played by teams on a ball court in Mesoamerican cultures from the Preclassic period to the Spanish conquest.
Also, ballgame.
[1840-50, Amer.]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ball game — ball games also ballgame 1) N COUNT: usu pl Ball games are games that are played with a ball such as tennis, baseball, and football. 2) N COUNT A ball game is a baseball match. [AM] I d still like to go to a ball game. 3) N SING You can use ball… …   English dictionary

  • ball game — ball ,game noun count 1. ) AMERICAN a baseball game 2. ) any game played with a ball, such as soccer or football a different ball game or a whole new ball game a situation that is completely different from what has happened before: I m working in …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • ball game — n 1.) AmE a game of baseball, football, or ↑basketball 2.) BrE any game played with a ball 3.) a whole new ball game a situation that is very different from the one you are used to ▪ I used to be a teacher, so working in an office is a whole new… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • ball game — ball game, ballpark 1. Ball game, an American name for baseball, has formed the core of several colloquial idioms in which it means ‘a state of affairs’, as in a whole new ball game. Because of its wide scope of alternative reference, it seems to …   Modern English usage

  • ball game — ball′ game n. 1) spo any game played with a ball 2) cvb inf a situation and all its attendant circumstances • Etymology: 1840–50, amer …   From formal English to slang

  • Ball game — A ball game is a game played with a ball. Someone who plays a ball game is known as a ballplayer.There are many popular games or sports involving some type of ball or similar object. These games can be grouped by the general objective of the game …   Wikipedia

  • ball game — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms ball game : singular ball game plural ball games 1) any game played with a ball, such as tennis or football 2) American a baseball match • a different ball game …   English dictionary

  • ball game — noun a) Any game played with a ball. Basketball, cricket, and football are three kinds of ball game. b) A specific contest or match between teams playing such a game. George and Harriet went to the stadium to see the ball game …   Wiktionary

  • ball game — noun 1 AmE a baseball game 2 BrE any game played with a ball 3 a whole new ball game a situation that is very different from the one you are used to: I used to be a teacher, so working in an office is a whole new ball game …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • ball game — noun Date: 1848 1. a game played with a ball 2. a. a set of circumstances ; situation < a whole new ball game > b. contest 1 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”