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

a 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. informal

The 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.