bat (redirected from batting about)

*blind as a bat 

1. completely blind. (Bats are not really blind. *Also: as ~.) He lost his sight in an accident and is as blind as a bat.

2. not able to see well. I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses.

3. unwilling to recognize problems or bad things. Connie is blind as a bat when it comes to her daughter's disgraceful behavior.

See also: blind

bat something around 

1. Lit. to knock something around with a bat or something similar. Terry spent a little time batting a ball around, then he went home. Let's bat around some balls before we go home.

2. Fig. to discuss something back and forth. Let's bat this around a little bit tomorrow at our meeting. Do you want to bat around this matter a little more?

See also: around

go to bat against someone

Fig. to aid someone against someone else. I would be happy to go to bat against Dan. We refused to go to bat against one of our friends.

See also: against

go to bat for someone

Fig. to support or help someone. I tried to go to bat for Bill, but he said he didn't want any help. I heard them gossiping about Sally, so I went to bat for her.

like a bat out of hell

Inf. very fast or sudden. (Use caution with hell.) The cat took off like a bat out of hell. The car pulled away from the curb like a bat out of hell.

See also: hell, like, out

not bat an eyelid and not bat an eye

Fig. to show no signs of distress even when something bad happens or something shocking is said. Sam didn't bat an eyelid when the mechanic told him how much the car repairs would cost. The pain of the broken arm must have hurt Sally terribly, but she did not bat an eyelid.

See also: eyelid

right off the bat and straight off the bat

Fig. immediately; first thing. When he was learning to ride a bicycle, he fell on his head right off the bat. The new manager demanded new office furniture right off the bat.

See also: right

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(right) off the bat  (American & Australian)

immediately I could tell right off the bat there was something different about this man.

not bat an eye/eyelash/eyelid

to not show any shock or surprise 'So what did she say when you told her you were leaving?' 'She didn't bat an eyelid.'

See also: eye

bat for the other side  (British humorous)

if someone bats for the other side, they are homosexual (= sexually attracted to people of the same sex) What about you, Justin? Do you think he bats for the other side?

See also: other, side

be as blind as a bat  (humorous)

to be completely blind I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses.

See also: blind

go to bat for somebody   (American & Australian)

to give help and support to someone who is in trouble, often by talking to someone else for them Give me some decent evidence and I'll go to bat for you.

like a bat out of hell

if you go somewhere like a bat out of hell, you go very fast He ran out of the building like a bat out of hell.

See also: hell, like, out

off your own bat  (British & Australian)

if you do something off your own bat, you do it without anyone else telling you or asking you to do it He chose to talk to the press off his own bat.

play a straight bat 

1. (British) to avoid answering someone's questions or giving them the information they want When asked about the affair, he plays a straight bat.

2. (British old-fashioned) someone who plays a straight bat is honest and has traditional ideas and beliefs Wilf has played a straight bat all his life - I can't believe he'd get mixed up in anything illegal.

See also: play, straight

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(right) off the bat

immediately Let me say right off the bat that I don't blame you for this problem. I know who you mean, but I can't think of his name right off the bat.

bat around something also bat something around

to discuss an idea or opinion A bunch of us batted around ideas at the annual meeting.

See also: around

go to bat for somebody/something

to give help or support to someone or something She's one of my closest friends in the world - I'd go to bat for her any day.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of go to bat (to position yourself to hit the ball in a baseball game)

like a bat out of hell

very fast Ben yelled at the guy and he took off like a bat out of hell.

See also: hell, like, out

not bat an eye also not bat an eyelid

to not show any reaction Mom didn't bat an eye when I told her I was getting married.

Usage notes: also used in the form without batting an eye with the same meaning: She can give a formal dinner for thirty without batting an eye.

See also: eye

not bat an eyelid See: not bat an eye

See also: eyelid