reach first base

1. Literally, in baseball, to successfully advance to the first base of the diamond. He's a power hitter—better let him reach first by walking him than risk giving away a home run.

2. To successfully move through some initial phase, development, or process. I have my doubts that this proposal will having any chance of reaching first base in Congress, let alone making it all the way to the president's desk for approval.

3. slang To kiss a romantic partner or potential romantic partner, especially for the first time. I don't want to rush things between us. For now, I'm just happy to have reached first base. A: "Did you reach first base with Dave last night?" B: "A lady doesn't kiss and tell!"

reach first base

(with someone or something) Go to get to first base (with someone or something).

See also: base, first, reach

References in periodicals archive ?

Scouts agree that speed is Zach Davis' top tool, but the Chicago Cubs wanted him to reach first base even faster.

Davis switches things up for Ems

The first oddity - a third strike that bounced and stuck in the middle of the chest protector of Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina - enabled pinch-hitter Matt Szczur to reach first base to start the seventh inning.

Schwarber gives Cubs lift with 3-run homer in victory over Cardinals

For simplicity of reference in this paper, each of the seven ways that a batter can reach first base will be referred to as a Way (capitalization intentional).

Was there a seven way game? Seven ways of reaching first base

The lie here is that the Western media promoted the "evidence" as being unquestionably true, when the story doesn't reach first base when it comes to evidence-based journalism.

Top Three Media Lies about Syrian Peace Talks

The modem for my office internet had been delayed over Christmas, and without any internet access Effective Communication was not even going to reach first base.

Keep learning in business and keep that spark; Western Mail Local Business Accelerator mentor, and founder and MD of Effective Communication, Alastair Milburn, gives advice to anyone thinking of starting up in business

If they reach first base and put the flag up, that means they may steal and pitchers can try to pick them off.

Decision for Sox: Papelbon or Bard?

William Winokur, it focuses on pitcher Angel Macias who, so far, has thrown the only perfect game in Little League championship history (a "perfect game" is when no hitter is allowed to reach first base.

Sports films and faith: being in the 'zone' can be a transcendent experience

Just as there are many ways to reach first base, there are many ways to procure and field a weapon system or product.

Moneyball and the art of acquisition warfare

But James could see, and later was to calculate, that the most important thing a batter could do was simply reach first base by drawing a walk.

Baseball: Baseball prophet shows value in stepping outside the orthodoxy; Willoughby on sport

However, Mr Hemming's grand plan to re-run the AGM in September, with all positions being up for grabs on a Single Trans-ferrable Vote (STV) basis, probably won't reach first base for a number of reasons.

Letter: STV plan is divisive and anti-democratic

Baseball players can reach first base in a variety of ways: Single, base on balls, passed ball on a third strike, hit by pitcher, catcher interference, and error.

Getting a bang out of a bang-bang call

Braves hurler Kevin Millwood, desperate to keep New York's first two hitters Chuck Knoblauch and Derek Jeter off base - it is Atlanta's biggest mission against New York in this series - let them reach first base with singles to start the game.

Baseball: YANKS GIVE BRAVES A TORRES TIME; Joe's men in home straight

Kirwin's solutions are reasonable as far as they go, but they only reach first base.

An insane system: how our judicial and public health systems are failing the mentally ill

Once the ball is put into play, the usual rules apply: The batter (or pinch-runner) must reach first base before being "put out" by the defense team.