in the ballpark
8
6.0
- idiom
- Informal
:
aproximadamente
- The estimate of 200 guests for the party is in the ballpark of what I expected.
- somewhere in the ballpark
- probably in the ballpark
- put you in the ballpark
So what Price did was he said, these people are not landing in the ballpark very often.
- So what Price did was he said, these people are not landing in the ballpark very often.
- And that's just quite the view, Craig, where you just say, you know, just let up if you, if you want to get in the ballpark, just let a market handle it and step back.
Examples
-
Most of them are in the ballpark of median income and do better than their less educated competitors on average.
Blog text (8) -
That's high for a smaller car but in the ballpark of your other car, the SUV.
Blog text (29) -
I have to call you back on that, but the money sounds like we're in the ballpark.
-
Yes, it usually costs more money, but if it's in the ballpark, it's worth it.
Blog text (34) -
Well, Anna taught me just enough to get me in the ballpark.
-
Glad to know that I'm in the ballpark with that target.
Blog text (32) -
The growth in charitable spending is not even in the ballpark of what has been reduced in tax intake.
Blog text (23) -
Medium format rangefinder prices are in the ballpark of almost a thousand and higher.
Academic text (1997) -
The Tigers are paying Torii somewhere in the ballpark of 26 million for 2 years; you want that?
Blog text (23) -
Don't take those error numbers too seriously, but they are probably in the ballpark of what these folks were claiming.
Blog text (27)
Synonyms
524
3.2
Near the exact number or amount
379
1.0
About an amount or number, not exact
373
1.6
About a number or amount that is not exact
301
2.1
About a number or idea, not exact but close enough
1
4.1
Almost correct but missing some details
How Accurate
901
3.2
680
3.0
- Informal
8
6.0
29
3.9
16
6.5
2
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase maps the spatial sense of 'in' + 'ballpark' (a bounded area) onto a figurative idea of being within an acceptable range, so a learner could plausibly infer 'approximately correct' from the container metaphor. However, the transfer from literal 'ballpark' (stadium) to the conventionalized estimate sense is somewhat culture-specific and metaphorical, so the exact meaning is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
In the ballpark comes from baseball: a ball that lands inside the ballpark is part of the game, not lost outside. So when a number or guess is in the ballpark, it is 'about right' or close enough to be useful.