base on balls
RareSpecialized / Technical (Sports)
Definition
Meaning
In baseball, a batter reaching first base after being pitched four balls outside the strike zone.
Also known colloquially as a 'walk'. It refers to a pitcher's failure to throw enough strikes, granting the batter a free advance to first base. In broader informal usage, can metaphorically indicate receiving something without effort or through a failure of the opposing side.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A technical term in baseball with a precise, rule-based definition. The plural is 'bases on balls'. The phrase functions as a compound noun. It is rarely used outside of baseball commentary, statistics, or rule discussions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is exclusive to American English, specifically in the context of baseball. In British English, the sport of baseball is far less common, and the equivalent cricket concept ('wide ball' granting a run) is entirely different. The term is not used in British English outside of discussions of American sport.
Connotations
In American English, it is a neutral, official statistical term. It has no idiomatic connotation in general language use.
Frequency
Virtually 100% in American English within the baseball domain. Frequency is 0% in British English general language.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The pitcher [verb: issued, allowed, walked] a base on balls.The batter [verb: drew, earned, received] a base on balls.A base on balls [verb: loads, advances, forces] the runners.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A walk is as good as a hit (baseball saying).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in sports science or statistical analysis of baseball.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only among baseball fans discussing game specifics.
Technical
Core term in baseball scoring, statistics, and rulebooks.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A in British English.
American English
- The pitcher walked the batter. (Equivalent verb form)
adverb
British English
- N/A in British English.
American English
- N/A for the phrase itself.
adjective
British English
- N/A in British English.
American English
- He had a walk-heavy approach at the plate. (Related adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The player got a base on balls and went to first base.
- With the bases loaded, a base on balls will force in a run.
- The pitcher's control was off, resulting in three costly bases on balls in the fifth inning.
- Analysts noted his high on-base percentage was driven more by his propensity to draw a base on balls than by his batting average.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BASEball player ON a BASE, waiting because he got four BALLS (bad pitches) – he gets to go to first base for free.
Conceptual Metaphor
RECEIVING A REWARD DUE TO ANOTHER'S FAILURE (The batter's advance is awarded because the pitcher failed to throw strikes).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'база на мячах'. This is meaningless. The correct Russian term in baseball contexts is 'уок' (from 'walk') or 'бэйс-он-болс' as a transliteration. In general translation, describe the concept: 'выигрыш права на первую базу после четырех боллов'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'base on ball' (singular). The term is plural: 'base on balls'.
- Confusing it with 'hit by pitch' (HBP), which is a different rule.
- Using it as a verb phrase (e.g., 'He based on balls'). The verb is 'to walk'.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common synonym for 'base on balls' in baseball terminology?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A base on balls (walk) occurs after four 'balls' (pitches outside the strike zone). A hit by pitch (HBP) occurs when a pitch strikes the batter. Both result in the batter going to first base, but they are different statistical events.
No, the phrase itself is a noun. The corresponding verb is 'to walk' (e.g., 'The pitcher walked the batter').
It is used internationally in countries where baseball is played seriously (e.g., Japan, Dominican Republic, South Korea), but always as a direct borrowing of the American English term. It is not part of general English vocabulary elsewhere.
'BB' is the standard statistical abbreviation for 'base on balls' or 'walks'.