Idioms

left-field

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left field

The metaphorical origin of something uncommon, unpopular, or otherwise strange. Often used in the phrase "out of left field." Well, that suggestion is certainly out of left field! How did you come up with that one? Sure, my aunt is really wacky and out in left field, but I love her!
See also: field, left
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

left-field

mainly BRITISH, JOURNALISM
People use left-field to describe something, especially a form of entertainment, that is unusual and unexpected. Over the last few years, the most left-field films in world cinema have come from Japan. This was a very left-field, European-style festival. Compare with come out of left field. Note: In baseball, left field is the part of the outfield where the sun and the wind can cause problems with the ball. In addition, the spectators often shout at the fielder in left field, and so players consider it to be a difficult position to play.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
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References in periodicals archive
Based on the home run data, ballpark researcher Larry Zuckerman has estimated the left-field dimension to be 290 feet, perhaps less, center field 440 feet, and right field 330 feet.
Fukukawa, who had his first career home run Tuesday, drove a 1-1 pitch from Ken Kamakura (0-2) into the left-field seats at Jingu Stadium, helping Takashi Maruyama (1-0) earn his first career win.
Indeed, the show's sexual politics were overwhelmingly of a ludic and left-field bent, political incorrectness being safely ensured by the inclusion of such unlikely bedfellows as Mel Ramos (a cheesy boudoir tableau entitled David's Duo, 1978), Cosey Fanni Tutti (documentation of a series of outre modeling sessions, 1973-79), and Tom of Finland (a selection from the late '60s of his signature, finely drawn illustrations of big boys at play).
Louis Cardinal star broke the 37-year-old, single-season record of 61 home runs with a sizzling drive over the left-field fence.
Removable seats installed down the left-field line will allow teams to play toward both end zones.
HOW come it has taken a footballer to come up with the excellent, but hardly left-field, idea for tennis to have a World Cup played in one location over a period of 10 days?
Fiat's Qubo is a bit left-field. Van shaped, it's billed as an MPV with a focus on practicality over style.
The duo reached No1 with The Monster, Lorde held her own in the No2 spot with Royals, and Fatboy Slim's left-field track Eat Sleep Rave Repeat and 1D's Story Of My Life were next.
The next batter was Ryan Corey, and he hit a three-run homer over the left-field fence.
"Our most unusual requests happen around April Fools' Day but occasionally we get a serious request that is more than left-field."
But Kasprowicz - who spearheaded Australia's attack with Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne in 2004 on its 2-1 raid and sole series victory in India since 1969 - said the key to overthrowing India in its own backyard was "left-field thinking".
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