bat (redirected from without batting an eye)

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, eyelid

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 someone (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

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.

(right) off the bat (American & Australian)

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

play a straight bat

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

2. 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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bat around something

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

See also: around

go to bat for someone/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

not bat an eye

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

not bat an eye

See also: eyelid

(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.