a (whole) new ballgame
a (whole) new ballgame
A situation that is completely different from what one is used to or expecting. Living away from home is a whole new ballgame for most young adults. I used to babysit, but having a child of my own is a new ballgame.
(whole) new ball game
Fig. a completely different situation; something completely different. Now that you're here, it's a whole new ball game. With a faster computer, it's a whole new ball game.
whole new ballgame, a
A completely altered situation, as in It will take a year to reassign the staff, and by then some will have quit and we'll have a whole new ballgame . This expression comes from baseball, where it signifies a complete turn of events, as when the team that was ahead falls behind. [Colloquial; 1960s]
a whole new ball game
ora different ball game
If you describe a situation as a whole new ball game, or a different ball game, you mean that it is completely different from what came before. I'm working with kids now, which is a whole new ball game. If military force were to be used, then that would be a completely different ball game. Note: `Ball game' is often used in American English to refer to a game of baseball.
a whole new ball game
a completely new set of circumstances. informalThe phrase originated in North America, where a ball game is a baseball match.
1989 Looks Making the film was a whole new ball game…for Kylie.
a (whole) different/new ˈball game
(informal) a completely different kind of situation: They used to go out every night, but now they’ve got a baby it’s a whole new ball game.a whole new ball game
n. a completely different situation; something completely different. Now that you’re here, it’s a whole new ball game.