base

*off base 

1. Lit. [of a runner in baseball] not having a foot touching the base. (*Typically: be ~; get ~.) The runner was off base but the first baseman didn't tag him out.

2. Fig. unrealistic; inexact; wrong. *Typically: be ~; get ~.) I'm afraid you're off base when you state that this problem will take care of itself. You're way off base if you think I was to blame!

base something (up)on someone or something

to ground something, such as one's opinion, decision, or thinking, on someone or something; to found one's ideas or attitude on something. (Upon is more formal and less commonly used than on.) I base my opinion on many, many facts. I based my opinion upon my own seasoned judgment.

base one's opinion on something

to make a judgment or form an opinion from something. You must not base your opinion on one bad experience. I base my opinion on many years of studying the problem.

See also: opinion

get to first base (with someone or something) and reach first base (with someone or something)

Fig. to make a major advance with someone or something. I wish I could get to first base with this business deal. John adores Sally, but he can't even reach first base with her. She won't even speak to him.

See also: first, get

steal a base

Fig. to sneak from one base to another in baseball. The runner stole second base, but he nearly got put out on the way. Tom runs so slowly that he never tries to steal a base.

See also: steal

touch base (with someone)

to talk to someone; to confer with someone briefly. I need to touch base with John on this matter. John and I touched base on this question yesterday, and we are in agreement.

See also: touch

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be off base  (American & Australian)

to be wrong The company chairman dismissed the experts' report as completely off base.

See touch base

get to first base 

1. (American & Australian informal) to begin to have success with something that you want to do

Usage notes: First base is the first place a player must run to after they hit the ball in a game of baseball.

They won't even get to first base with the directors with a proposal like that.

2. (mainly American humorous) to get to the first stage of a sexual relationship, where partners kiss and touch each other Jimmy hasn't even gotten to first base yet with his girlfriend.

See also: first, get

touch base

to talk to someone in order to find out how they are or what they think about something (usually + with ) I had a really good time in Paris. I touched base with some old friends and made a few new ones.

See cover all the bases, strike a chord, hit a nerve, lose touch, touch wood

See also: touch

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get to first base

to begin to have success, esp. in the early stages of something They won't even get to first base with the directors if they propose something like that.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of first base (the first place a player must run to after hitting the ball in a game of baseball)

See also: first, get

off base

wrong You're way off base if you think that teaching the basic skills is a waste of time.

touch base (with somebody)

to talk briefly to someone I'll touch base with him later today to tell him about the meeting.

See also: touch