bat away

1. Literally, to strike a ball away from oneself with a club, bat, or racket. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bat" and "away." I put everything I had into my serves, but my opponent just batted them away as if they were nothing. I had to bat that pitch away—otherwise, it would have hit me! Dang, how did you manage to bat that throw away?

2. In baseball, to swing one's bat at will in order to hit the ball. The coach patted the star hitter on the back as she made her way to the plate and told her to bat away. I batted away and just barely missed hitting that pitch. He batted away on a 3-0 pitch but managed to smack a home run.

3. To strike someone or something away from oneself, especially with one's hands. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bat" and "away." I tried to get past the bouncer, but he just batted me away like a fly. It felt like we spent the whole vacation batting away mosquitoes. Be careful batting away a bee like that—I've been stung on the hand before.

4. To avoid, dismiss, or disregard some comment or question. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bat" and "away." I tried to nail down the senator's position on the new tax proposal, but he batted all my questions away. You can't just bat away any bit of criticism leveled at you. You'll never grow as an artist that way! Though the complaints were credible, the CEO batted them away like they were only from disgruntled users

5. To wink or flutter continuously or at length. Her eyes started batting away as she turned toward the cameras. Sorry, I don't mean to bat away at you, there's just something in my eye. Listen, lady, your eyes can bat away all day long—you're still getting a ticket!